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No professional sports organization promotes competitive balance in the manner of the NFL: it’s the entire brand. Yet following ten games during the current schedule, this is not a competition featuring uniform distribution between the good, the bad and the mediocre. Instead, it's a scenario where most of the league appear to be sufficient.

Clear Picture in NFC

In the NFC, at least, we see clearer definition. The Rams along with the Seahawks (both at 7-2) appear to be the most complete teams in football, and delivered overwhelming triumphs in their weekend matchups. The Eagles with six wins even with their challenges maintain a deeply skilled squad across the NFL, comparable to the Packers franchise (five wins, two losses, one tie). Detroit as well (6-3 standing), with their fluctuating form on offense and defense while managing coaching drama, have demonstrated they can hammer strong franchises. For all five, one can readily put together a Super Bowl path.

AFC Playoff Chaos

In the AFC however, postseason landscape is a jumbled mess. The current division frontrunners at this stage: Indianapolis, New England, Denver (all standing at eight wins) along with Pittsburgh (5-4). Read that again. No Chiefs presence. No Bills inclusion. Not the Ravens or Bengals. The usual contenders, supported by the league’s best quarterbacks, display either obvious team deficiencies or have suffered medical setbacks.

Parity Mechanics

In some ways, this is exactly what the league wants. However, witnessing this season's top AFC teams within the conference remains somewhat odd. Areas of each team suggest title potential, though not comprehensively. If someone requested to finalize your AFC title game selections right now, would you confidently choose any among the current division frontrunners?

Team Breakdowns

Indianapolis Colts

First, examining Indianapolis, the signal-caller hasn’t quite reached pumpkin status. But the last two weeks have been worrying. He’s back to committing turnovers and faltering under duress. He suffered seven sacks versus Atlanta in the weekend game, and had a five-minute stretch in which he threw an intercepted pass and fumbled three times. This is a week after he gave away possessions on five occasions facing the Steelers.

The Colts’ offense performed well initially as Jones prevented game-changing errors. Jonathan Taylor and the offensive line mean the Colts are able to withstand some negative plays, as they did in Berlin. Yet Jones going back to his historically mistake-heavy play would end any playoff run.

New England Analysis

The Patriots feel fairly alike. Last season, they were considered jokes. Now, they’re the league’s happiest surprise and the most successful franchise in the NFL following seven consecutive victories. Except for fumbling away a contest they should have won facing Pittsburgh, they'd possess nine wins, one loss as the league's best. In the prior year, they were old and slow. Now they’re young, fast and unafraid. Nevertheless, one cannot overlook the ease of the Patriots' matchups. They've played against the easiest slate across the NFL, and flaws have still emerged. Drake Maye has been brought down on 35 occasions – ranking second league-wide – including particular impacts he suffered last weekend appeared dangerous. As the season progresses, those hits add up.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos are 8–2 as well, yet it seems that they're barely surviving. Bo Nix has been erratic, 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 Western division with seven wins, but the injuries along their offensive line will create difficulties to achieve championship contention.

Pittsburgh Steelers

And then there’s Pittsburgh, inexplicably frontrunning their division even after suffering a 25-10 defeat from the Chargers during prime time. Their scoring margin remains negative, their defense regularly vanishes, and the QB's current constraints at this stage of his career continue to show up. They maintain a 5-4 record while surviving, but Baltimore, with their QB returning to health and facing easier opponents, are riding a three-game streak. We shouldn't be completely astonished that the Ravens have pulled to within one game of Pittsburgh, though the speed of this shift is an indictment of Pittsburgh's fluctuating form. The fact Baltimore began the season 1-5 yet still appear capable of division victory is telling about the complete conference.

Traditional Powers

Baltimore constitutes part of the Big Three – joined by Buffalo and Kansas City – fueled by former MVP signal-callers, that would continue to generate the most fear 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.

Buffalo Bills

Last week, the Bills were riding high after beating the Chiefs. During Sunday's action they experienced a particularly discouraging setback during the campaign. They didn't merely fall against Miami; they suffered humiliation, losing 30-13 as visitors. This represented Miami's initial victory against Buffalo in over three years.

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