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No professional sports organization sells equal footing as effectively as the NFL: it's their core marketing message. Yet following ten games in this campaign, 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 adequate.

NFC Standings Definition

Within the National Football Conference, at least, we see clearer definition. The Rams and Seahawks (each holding 7-2 records) seem like the most balanced franchises in football, and achieved decisive victories during Sunday's action. The 6-2 Eagles even with their challenges still have one of the most talented rosters in the league, similar to the Packers (5-2-1). Even the Lions (6-3), with their fluctuating form along both lines of scrimmage and navigating coaching drama, have proven they can hammer good teams. Regarding these five teams, you can still easily put together a championship trajectory.

AFC Confusion

Over in the AFC, championship race remains completely chaotic. Your four division leaders through ten weeks: the Colts, Patriots, Broncos (all at 8-2) and Steelers (five wins, four losses). Take another look. No Chiefs presence. Buffalo is missing. Neither Ravens nor Bengals. The traditional powers, supported by premier quarterback talent, have either glaring roster weaknesses or have suffered medical setbacks.

League Equality Design

To some extent, it’s the league’s ideal. Yet observing the current division frontrunners in the AFC remains somewhat odd. Aspects of each franchise meet championship standards, though not comprehensively. Were you questioned to commit to your conference championship predictions right now, could you assuredly pick any of the current division frontrunners?

Franchise Analysis

Colts Situation

Beginning with the Colts, their quarterback hasn't descended to complete disaster level. Yet the past two games have caused alarm. He’s back to giving away possessions and faltering under duress. He was sacked seven times facing Atlanta during Sunday's contest, and endured a brief period in which he threw an intercepted pass and lost three fumbles. This is a week after he committed turnovers five times against the Steelers.

The Colts attack performed well initially because Jones avoided catastrophic mistakes. The running back and protection unit make the Colts able to withstand occasional setbacks, as they did in Berlin. Yet Jones going back to his previous error-filled form would terminate postseason aspirations.

New England Patriots

The Patriots seem relatively comparable. Previously, they were a punchline. Currently, they represent football's most unexpected success and the most successful franchise across the league following seven consecutive victories. If not for losing due to fumbles a winnable game versus the Steelers, they'd possess a 9-1 record as the league's best. In the prior year, they seemed veteran and plodding. Today they appear youthful, quick and confident. Still, it’s hard to ignore the ease of the Patriots' matchups. They have faced the most manageable schedule in the league, and flaws have still emerged. The signal-caller has been sacked thirty-five times – among the highest totals – and some of the shots he suffered last weekend proved brutal. As the season progresses, those beatings accumulate.

Broncos Situation

The Broncos are eight wins similarly, yet it seems that they're barely surviving. The Denver signal-caller has shown inconsistency, with the attack struggling, while the defensive unit provides all the heavy lifting. Lacking competent QB performance, Denver cannot intimidate playoff opponents. The Chargers are also contending in the Western division with seven wins, yet medical problems affecting their protection unit will create difficulties to mount a deep postseason tilt.

Steelers Examination

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh exists, inexplicably frontrunning the Northern division notwithstanding receiving a 25-10 defeat from the Chargers in the evening game. Their scoring margin remains negative, their defense regularly vanishes, and the QB's current constraints at this stage of his career regularly manifest. They’re 5–4 and holding on, but Baltimore, with Lamar Jackson healthy again and the schedule softening, are riding a three-game streak. It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that the Ravens have narrowed to within one game of Pittsburgh, though the speed of this shift represents criticism toward Pittsburgh's fluctuating form. That the Ravens started with a 1-5 record yet still appear they should win the division speaks volumes regarding the complete conference.

Traditional Powers

Baltimore constitutes part among three elite teams – alongside the Bills and Chiefs – driven by elite quarterback play, that would continue to generate the greatest concern in opposing teams should they reach postseason. They're the teams everyone hopes to avoid, but the Chiefs and Bills cannot get out of their own way.

Bills Struggles

Previously, the Bills felt confident after beating the Chiefs. This weekend they encountered among the season's worst defeats of the season. They didn’t just lose against Miami; they suffered humiliation, dropping a 30-13 road game. The Dolphins secured their first triumph versus Buffalo in over three years.

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