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No league sells parity in the manner of the NFL: it's their core marketing message. Yet following ten games during the current schedule, this doesn't represent a landscape featuring uniform distribution among elite teams, poor performers, and average squads. Instead, it's a scenario where the bulk of franchises is simply fine.

Clear Picture in NFC

Within the National Football Conference, to some degree, there is some clarity. The Rams and Seahawks (both standing at seven wins, two losses) look like the most balanced franchises in football, and secured blowout wins in their weekend matchups. The 6-2 Eagles even with their challenges maintain among the most gifted lineups in the league, similar to the Packers (5-2-1 record). Detroit as well (6-3), who have been inconsistent along both lines of scrimmage while managing coaching drama, have proven they can hammer quality opponents. Regarding these five teams, one can readily construct a route to the final game.

AFC Confusion

Turning to the American Football Conference, the playoff picture is a jumbled mess. Your four division leaders through ten weeks: the Colts, Patriots, Broncos (all standing at eight wins) and Steelers (5-4). Consider that carefully. Kansas City isn't there. No Bills inclusion. Baltimore and Cincinnati are absent. The traditional powers, supported by premier quarterback talent, have either significant personnel gaps or have been hit by injuries.

League Equality Design

To some extent, it’s the league’s ideal. However, witnessing the current division frontrunners in the AFC continues to seem unusual. Aspects of each franchise pass the championship smell test, yet not completely. Were you questioned to finalize your conference championship predictions today, could you assuredly pick any of the current division frontrunners?

Franchise Analysis

Colts Situation

Starting in Indianapolis, the signal-caller hasn't yet achieved total collapse. But the last two weeks have caused alarm. He's reverting to committing turnovers and failing against blitzes. He was sacked seven times versus Atlanta in the weekend game, and endured a brief period where he delivered an interception and coughed up the ball thrice. This is a week after he gave away possessions on five occasions versus Pittsburgh.

Indianapolis' offensive unit excelled during early games because Jones avoided the disaster plays. The running back and protection unit mean the Colts are able to withstand periodic mistakes, as demonstrated overseas. Yet Jones going back to his historically mistake-heavy play would terminate postseason aspirations.

Patriots Examination

The Patriots seem relatively comparable. Last season, they were considered jokes. Now, they’re football's most unexpected success and the most successful franchise across the league after seven straight wins. If not for fumbling away a manageable matchup versus the Steelers, they’d be sitting a 9-1 record with the top standing. Previously, they seemed veteran and plodding. Currently they're youthful, quick and confident. Nevertheless, one cannot overlook how soft the Patriots’ schedule has been. They have faced the least challenging lineup across the NFL, and there have still been cracks. Their quarterback has taken sacks on 35 occasions – the second-most in football – with several hits he absorbed on Sunday proved brutal. As the season progresses, that punishment compounds.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos are also 8-2, yet it seems like they're nervously waiting. Bo Nix has performed unevenly, and the offense plodding, while the defensive unit provides all the heavy lifting. Without serviceable quarterback play, Denver cannot intimidate any playoff team. Los Angeles remains nearby within their division at 7-2, but the injuries within their blocking corps will create difficulties to mount a deep postseason tilt.

Steelers Examination

And then there’s Pittsburgh, somehow still leading the AFC North even after suffering a decisive loss to Los Angeles in the evening game. They have a negative point differential, their defense too often disappears, with their quarterback's restrictions during his career phase continue to show up. At 5-4, they're barely clinging, however, the Ravens, with their QB returning to health and the schedule softening, are riding a three-game streak. We shouldn't be completely astonished that the Ravens have pulled to within one game of Pittsburgh, but how rapidly this occurred highlights deficiencies within the Steelers' uneven performances. The fact Baltimore began with a 1-5 record yet still appear likely to claim the title reveals much about the conference as a whole.

Historical Favorites

The Ravens represent a segment within a trio of powerhouses – together with Bills and Chiefs – driven by elite quarterback play, who could still create the greatest concern in opposing teams should they reach postseason. They represent undesirable playoff matchups, but the Chiefs and Bills continue to self-destruct.

Buffalo Analysis

Last week, the Bills were riding high following victory over Kansas City. On Sunday they suffered among the season's worst defeats of the season. They didn't simply fail against Miami; they were embarrassed, dropping a 30-13 road game. This represented Miami's initial victory versus Buffalo in more than 1,000 days.

If you’re looking for an example representing the day, here you go: Josh Allen turning {a quarterback sneak|a short-yardage play|a sneak attempt