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No league sells competitive balance as effectively as the NFL: it’s the entire brand. However, after 10 weeks in this campaign, this is not a competition that is equally balanced between the good, the bad and the mediocre. Instead, it's a scenario where the majority of teams appear to be adequate.

Clear Picture in NFC

In the NFC, to some degree, the picture becomes more distinct. Los Angeles and Seattle (both standing at seven wins, two losses) look like the most well-rounded squads in football, and delivered blowout wins in their weekend matchups. The Eagles with six wins despite their struggles maintain a deeply skilled squad in the league, comparable to the Packers franchise (5-2-1). The Lions also (six and three), with their fluctuating form along both lines of scrimmage and navigating internal staff conflicts, have shown they're capable of dominating good teams. Regarding these five teams, you can still easily put together a Super Bowl path.

AFC Playoff Chaos

Over in the AFC, postseason landscape is thoroughly confusing. Your four division leaders at this stage: the Colts, Patriots, Broncos (all standing at eight wins) and the Steelers (5-4). Consider that carefully. No Chiefs presence. Buffalo is missing. Neither Ravens nor Bengals. The usual contenders, featuring the league’s best quarterbacks, possess either glaring roster weaknesses or have suffered medical setbacks.

League Equality Design

From certain perspectives, this is exactly what the league wants. But watching the current division frontrunners in the AFC remains somewhat odd. Aspects of each franchise meet championship standards, yet not completely. If someone requested to commit to your conference championship predictions at this moment, could you assuredly pick any of the current division frontrunners?

Franchise Analysis

Indianapolis Colts

Starting in Indianapolis, the signal-caller hasn't yet achieved total collapse. However, recent performances have been worrying. He's reverting to committing turnovers and failing against blitzes. He took seven sacks against the Falcons in the weekend game, and had a short sequence where he delivered an intercepted pass and lost three fumbles. This is a week after he committed turnovers on five occasions facing the Steelers.

The Colts attack performed well initially because Jones avoided catastrophic mistakes. Taylor along with the blockers mean the Colts are capable of overcoming some negative plays, as demonstrated overseas. However, if Jones reverts to his historically mistake-heavy play would finish postseason aspirations.

Patriots Examination

The Patriots seem fairly alike. A year ago, they were a punchline. Currently, they represent football's most unexpected success and the most successful franchise in the NFL after seven straight wins. Except for committing turnover errors a manageable matchup against Pittsburgh, they’d be sitting at 9–1 with the top standing. Previously, they appeared aged and sluggish. Currently they're inexperienced, speedy and bold. Still, it’s hard to ignore how soft the Patriots’ schedule has been. They have faced the most manageable schedule across the NFL, and flaws have still emerged. Drake Maye has been sacked 35 times – the second-most in football – with several hits he endured during the game were vicious. Over time, that punishment compounds.

Denver Analysis

Denver stands at also 8-2, and it still feels that they're barely surviving. Their quarterback has shown inconsistency, with the attack struggling, with the defense doing all the heavy lifting. Without serviceable quarterback play, Denver cannot intimidate anyone in the postseason. Los Angeles remains nearby within their division at 7-2, however, health issues affecting their protection unit will create difficulties to mount a deep postseason tilt.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh exists, somehow still leading the Northern division notwithstanding receiving a decisive loss to Los Angeles on Sunday night. Their scoring margin remains negative, their defensive unit frequently falters, with their quarterback's restrictions at this stage of his career persistently appear. They maintain a 5-4 record while surviving, however, the Ravens, with their QB returning to health and the schedule softening, are riding a three-game streak. It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that Baltimore has closed within a game of the Steelers, though the speed of this shift represents criticism toward the Steelers' uneven performances. The fact Baltimore began with a 1-5 record and still look like 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 – alongside the Bills and Chiefs – fueled by former MVP signal-callers, who could still create the most fear among competitors should they reach postseason. They represent undesirable playoff matchups, but the Chiefs and Bills cannot get out of their own way.

Bills Struggles

Previously, the Bills felt confident post Chiefs triumph. On Sunday they suffered a particularly discouraging setback of the season. They didn't merely fall to the Dolphins; they suffered humiliation, falling 30-13 on the road. It was Miami’s first win over the Bills in several seasons.

Should you seek a microcosm of the day, look no further: Allen transforming {a quarterback sneak|a short-yardage play|a sneak attempt