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No professional sports organization promotes equal footing like the NFL: it defines their identity. But through 10 weeks of this season, this is not a competition featuring uniform distribution separating contenders, pretenders, and middle-of-the-pack clubs. It’s one where the bulk of franchises is simply sufficient.

NFC Clarity

Looking at the NFC side, for the most part, there is some clarity. The Rams and Seahawks (each holding 7-2 records) look like the most balanced franchises across the league, and achieved overwhelming triumphs during Sunday's action. Philadelphia at 6-2 despite their struggles maintain a deeply skilled squad in the league, similar to the Packers franchise (5-2-1). Even the Lions (6-3), despite their uneven performances along both lines of scrimmage while managing coaching drama, have shown they can defeat good teams. Regarding these five teams, it's straightforward to construct a Super Bowl path.

AFC Playoff Chaos

Turning to the American Football Conference, championship race is thoroughly confusing. Your four division leaders after ten games: Indianapolis, New England, Denver (all at 8-2) and Steelers (5-4). Read that again. Not the Chiefs. Not the Bills. Not the Ravens or Bengals. The usual contenders, featuring elite NFL signal-callers, possess either glaring roster weaknesses or have been hit by injuries.

Competitive Balance System

From certain perspectives, it’s the league’s ideal. Yet observing this season's top AFC teams in the AFC still feels strange. Components of every squad pass the championship smell test, though not comprehensively. If you were asked to finalize your conference championship predictions today, could you assuredly pick any of the four division leaders?

Squad Examinations

Indianapolis Colts

Starting in Indianapolis, Daniel Jones hasn’t quite reached pumpkin status. Yet the past two games have been worrying. He has returned to turning over the ball and failing against blitzes. He was sacked seven times facing Atlanta in the weekend game, and experienced a short sequence during which he tossed an intercepted pass and coughed up the ball thrice. This is a week after he turned the ball over five times against the Steelers.

The Colts attack thrived early in the season since Jones evaded game-changing errors. The running back and protection unit mean the Colts are good enough to survive occasional setbacks, as demonstrated overseas. But Jones returning to his historically mistake-heavy play would finish any playoff run.

New England Analysis

The Patriots seem relatively comparable. A year ago, they were a punchline. Currently, they represent the league’s happiest surprise and the strongest squad in the NFL after seven straight wins. Had it not been for losing due to fumbles a winnable game versus the Steelers, they'd possess a 9-1 record with the best record. In the prior year, they were old and slow. Today they appear youthful, quick and confident. However, we must acknowledge the weakness of New England's opponents. They've encountered the most manageable schedule across the NFL, yet vulnerabilities remain. The signal-caller has been brought down thirty-five times – the second-most in football – with several hits he suffered last weekend were vicious. Over time, those hits add up.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos are also 8-2, yet it seems like they're nervously waiting. The Denver signal-caller has shown inconsistency, and the offense plodding, as the defense handles most of the responsibility. Lacking competent QB performance, Denver cannot intimidate any playoff team. The Chargers are also contending in the AFC West at 7-2, but the injuries along their offensive line will make it tough to achieve championship contention.

Pittsburgh Steelers

And then there’s Pittsburgh, inexplicably frontrunning the AFC North even after suffering a decisive loss to Los Angeles on Sunday night. They have a negative point differential, their defense too often disappears, and the QB's current constraints at this stage of his career persistently appear. They’re 5–4 and holding on, yet Baltimore, featuring a recovered Jackson with manageable games ahead, are on a three-game win streak. We shouldn't be completely astonished that Baltimore has closed the gap to just one game, but that it has arrived so quickly is an indictment of Pittsburgh's fluctuating form. The fact Baltimore began losing five of six yet still appear capable of division victory is telling about the conference as a whole.

Established Contenders

The Ravens represent a segment of the Big Three – together with Bills and Chiefs – powered by their MVP quarterbacks, that would continue to generate the greatest concern in opposing teams if they qualified. They're the teams everyone hopes to avoid, however, both franchises continue to self-destruct.

Buffalo Bills

A week ago, Buffalo was celebrating following victory over Kansas City. This weekend they encountered a particularly discouraging setback during the campaign. They didn't simply fail against Miami; they suffered humiliation, dropping a 30-13 road game. It was Miami’s first win over the Bills in more than 1,000 days.

For those searching for an example representing the day, here you go: Josh Allen turning {a quarterback sneak|a short-yardage play|a sneak attempt