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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many fans into the National Football League

This outcome may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their eight and two rivals

Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to set up a major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award

The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?

Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City last week or something more? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address

The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and display

MVP Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the league's top offences

Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns

Containing the league's best running game was also key, with James Cook and teammates registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5 yard average

Then there were the three crucial turnovers, and the pair from Josh Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami converted to a touchdown just later

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defense and Josh Allen attempting to overcompensate to rescue his squad from the situation - not the calm, controlled, well-balanced Bills we've seen this season

The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this season so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East

In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

Regarding the New England, they're among three different 8-2 teams in the league, all AFC sides, but are they the best?

One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with just five of their total 24 victories coming against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts beating the Denver

Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time success in Buffalo appears to be a statement

Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive wins, similar to the Broncos, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was huge

Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he certainly deserves point for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to steer his team to victory

The defensive unit is solid and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to exceed 22 miles per hour this season on his first score

While you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the best record due to their remaining opponents - which includes just one game against a winning team, although a huge one against the Bills

Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for first place but encounter the same problem) and also the Packers on the schedule

The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There's a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is available for a surprise number one position in the AFC

Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Clash

Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different eight and two sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who each put up forty points to reach 7-2 before next week's major meeting between the two in LA

Both have secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a contest

Both could realistically be undefeated as well - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play deflected and returned by the Philadelphia for a score

Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the final play of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely two of the top teams in the NFL

The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far

Top Performer - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 yards, registering three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards