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No league promotes parity in the manner of the NFL: it’s the entire brand. Yet following ten games of this season, this isn’t a league that is equally balanced between the good, the bad and the mediocre. Rather, we see a situation where the majority of teams appear to be sufficient.

NFC Clarity

Looking at the NFC side, at least, the picture becomes more distinct. Los Angeles and Seattle (each holding 7-2 records) seem like the most balanced franchises in the NFL, and delivered decisive victories in their weekend matchups. The Eagles with six wins despite their struggles maintain one of the most talented rosters in the league, comparable to Green Bay (5-2-1). The Lions also (6-3 standing), with their fluctuating form along both lines of scrimmage and have been dealing with coaching drama, have demonstrated they can hammer quality opponents. For each of these squads, one can readily put together a championship trajectory.

AFC Confusion

In the AFC however, the playoff picture remains completely chaotic. Your four division leaders after ten games: the Colts, Patriots, Broncos (all standing at eight wins) and Steelers (5-4). Read that again. Kansas City isn't there. Not the Bills. Baltimore and Cincinnati are absent. The traditional powers, featuring the league’s best quarterbacks, have either significant personnel gaps or have suffered medical setbacks.

Competitive Balance System

To some extent, it’s the league’s ideal. Yet observing the current division frontrunners in the AFC still feels strange. Areas of each team suggest title potential, though not comprehensively. If you were asked to finalize your AFC Championship game picks right now, could you assuredly choose any among the four division leaders?

Squad Examinations

Indianapolis Colts

Starting in Indianapolis, Daniel Jones hasn’t quite reached total collapse. But the last two weeks have raised concerns. He's reverting to giving away possessions and failing against blitzes. He suffered seven sacks facing Atlanta in the weekend game, and had a short sequence in which he threw an intercepted pass and lost three fumbles. This comes after he committed turnovers five times versus Pittsburgh.

The Colts attack excelled during early games because Jones avoided game-changing errors. Jonathan Taylor and the offensive line make the Colts good enough to survive periodic mistakes, as they did in Berlin. But Jones returning to his historically mistake-heavy play would finish postseason aspirations.

Patriots Examination

New England appears fairly alike. Last season, they were considered jokes. Currently, they represent the league’s happiest surprise and the hottest team in football after seven straight wins. If not for losing due to fumbles a winnable game versus the Steelers, they'd possess at 9–1 with the best record. Last season, they appeared aged and sluggish. Currently they're young, fast and unafraid. Nevertheless, one cannot overlook the ease of the Patriots' matchups. They've encountered the least challenging lineup throughout football, and flaws have still emerged. Their quarterback has taken sacks on 35 occasions – the second-most in football – with several hits he endured during the game proved brutal. With continued play, those hits add up.

Denver Analysis

The Broncos are 8–2 as well, and it still feels like they're nervously waiting. The Denver signal-caller has shown inconsistency, and the offense plodding, with the defense doing most of the responsibility. Lacking competent QB performance, the Broncos won't frighten playoff opponents. The Chargers are also contending in the AFC West at 7-2, however, health issues within their blocking corps will create difficulties to achieve championship contention.

Steelers Examination

And then there’s Pittsburgh, surprisingly atop the Northern division despite being thumped a 25-10 defeat from the Chargers in the evening game. They have a negative point differential, their defense too often disappears, and Aaron Rodgers’ limitations given his veteran status regularly manifest. They maintain a 5-4 record while surviving, but Baltimore, featuring a recovered Jackson and facing easier opponents, are riding a three-game streak. We shouldn't be completely astonished that Baltimore has closed to within one game of Pittsburgh, but that it has arrived so quickly is an indictment of Pittsburgh’s inconsistencies. Considering the Ravens opened losing five of six yet still appear capable of division victory reveals much about the entire AFC.

Historical Favorites

The Ravens represent a segment among three elite teams – together with Bills and Chiefs – driven by elite quarterback play, that would continue to generate the most fear among competitors should they reach postseason. They're the teams everyone hopes to avoid, yet Kansas City and Buffalo cannot get out of their own way.

Buffalo Bills

Previously, the Bills felt confident following victory over Kansas City. During Sunday's action they experienced one of the most disappointing losses this year. They didn’t just lose versus the Dolphins; they were embarrassed, dropping a 30-13 road game. It was Miami’s first win over the Bills in over three years.

Should you seek a perfect summary of Sunday, here you go: the quarterback converting {a quarterback sneak|a short-yardage play|a sneak attempt