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No major competition promotes parity like the NFL: it’s the entire brand. Yet following the first ten matchups in this campaign, this isn’t a league featuring uniform distribution among elite teams, poor performers, and average squads. Instead, it's a scenario where most of the league is simply adequate.

Clear Picture in NFC

Within the National Football Conference, to some degree, we see clearer definition. The Rams along with the Seahawks (both standing at seven wins, two losses) seem like the most balanced franchises across the league, and delivered decisive victories on Sunday. Philadelphia at 6-2 notwithstanding their difficulties still have one of the most talented rosters throughout football, comparable to the Packers (5-2-1). The Lions also (6-3 standing), who have been inconsistent along both lines of scrimmage and navigating coaching drama, have demonstrated they're capable of dominating good teams. For all five, you can still easily put together a Super Bowl path.

AFC Playoff Chaos

Turning to the American Football Conference, championship race is thoroughly confusing. The current division frontrunners after ten games: Indianapolis, New England, Denver (all at 8-2) and the Steelers (5-4). Read that again. Not the Chiefs. No Bills inclusion. Baltimore and Cincinnati are absent. Historically strong franchises, featuring elite NFL signal-callers, have either significant personnel gaps or have suffered medical setbacks.

League Equality Design

From certain perspectives, this represents the NFL's perfect scenario. However, witnessing this season's top AFC teams within the conference continues to seem unusual. Areas of each team suggest title potential, but not in their entirety. If you were asked to commit to your conference championship predictions right now, would you confidently choose any among these four teams?

Team Breakdowns

Colts Situation

Starting in Indianapolis, the signal-caller hasn't yet achieved total collapse. However, recent performances have been worrying. He has returned to turning over the ball and struggling against pressure. He suffered seven sacks against the Falcons on Sunday, and had a brief period in which he threw a pick and lost three fumbles. This follows he turned the ball over on five occasions facing the Steelers.

Indianapolis' offensive unit thrived early in the season as Jones prevented catastrophic mistakes. The running back and protection unit make the Colts able to withstand some negative plays, like their German performance. Yet Jones going back to his historically mistake-heavy play would finish postseason aspirations.

Patriots Examination

The Patriots seem relatively comparable. Last season, they were league laughingstocks. Currently, they represent the league’s happiest surprise and the hottest team in the NFL post seven wins in a row. Had it not been for fumbling away a winnable game versus the Steelers, they would currently hold a 9-1 record with the top standing. In the prior year, they appeared aged and sluggish. Now they’re youthful, quick and confident. However, we must acknowledge the ease of the Patriots' matchups. They've played against the easiest slate in the league, and flaws have still emerged. The signal-caller has taken sacks thirty-five times – the second-most in football – including particular impacts he absorbed on Sunday were vicious. With continued play, that punishment compounds.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos are also 8-2, and it still feels like they're nervously waiting. The Denver signal-caller has performed unevenly, and the offense plodding, with the defense doing all the heavy lifting. Lacking competent QB performance, the Broncos aren’t scaring anyone in the postseason. The Chargers are also contending in the AFC West at 7-2, but the injuries affecting their protection unit will make it tough to mount a deep postseason tilt.

Steelers Examination

And then there’s Pittsburgh, inexplicably frontrunning the Northern division notwithstanding receiving 25-10 by the Chargers in the evening game. They've been outscored overall, their defense regularly vanishes, with their quarterback's restrictions during his career phase persistently appear. They maintain a 5-4 record while surviving, yet Baltimore, featuring a recovered Jackson and facing easier opponents, are riding a three-game streak. This development isn't entirely shocking that the Ravens have pulled to within one game of Pittsburgh, but how rapidly this occurred is an indictment of Pittsburgh's fluctuating form. That the Ravens started with a 1-5 record yet still appear capable of division victory is telling about the conference as a whole.

Traditional Powers

Baltimore constitutes part of the Big Three – alongside the Bills and Chiefs – driven by elite quarterback play, that would continue to generate the greatest concern for opponents should they reach postseason. They represent undesirable playoff matchups, however, both franchises cannot get out of their own way.

Bills Struggles

Last week, Buffalo was celebrating after beating the Chiefs. On Sunday they suffered one of the most disappointing losses during the campaign. They didn’t just lose against Miami; they were embarrassed, dropping a 30-13 road game. The Dolphins secured their first triumph over the Bills in over three years.

If you’re looking for a microcosm of the day, here you go: Allen transforming {a quarterback sneak|a short-yardage play|a sneak attempt