🔗 Share this article

No professional sports organization markets parity in the manner of the NFL: it defines their identity. Yet following the first ten matchups in this campaign, this isn’t a league with perfect equilibrium separating contenders, pretenders, and middle-of-the-pack clubs. It’s one where most of the league is simply sufficient.

NFC Clarity

Looking at the NFC side, to some degree, the picture becomes more distinct. The Rams and Seahawks (both standing at seven wins, two losses) seem like the most balanced franchises in football, and delivered overwhelming triumphs on Sunday. The Eagles with six wins despite their struggles maintain a deeply skilled squad across the NFL, likewise with Green Bay (five wins, two losses, one tie). The Lions also (6-3), despite their uneven performances along both lines of scrimmage and have been dealing with coaching drama, have shown they can hammer quality opponents. For all five, it's straightforward to put together a championship trajectory.

AFC Playoff Chaos

Over in the AFC, the playoff picture remains completely chaotic. Your four division leaders after ten games: Indianapolis, New England, Denver (all standing at eight wins) along with Pittsburgh (five wins, four losses). Read that again. Not the Chiefs. No Bills inclusion. Baltimore and Cincinnati are absent. The usual contenders, supported by the league’s best quarterbacks, possess either significant personnel gaps or have suffered medical setbacks.

League Equality Design

From certain perspectives, this is exactly what the league wants. But watching this season's top AFC teams in the AFC still feels strange. Aspects of each franchise pass the championship smell test, though not comprehensively. If you were asked to commit to your conference championship predictions at this moment, would you comfortably choose any among the four division leaders?

Squad Examinations

Colts Situation

Beginning with the Colts, the signal-caller hasn't yet achieved pumpkin status. However, recent performances have been worrying. He's reverting to committing turnovers and struggling against pressure. He took seven sacks facing Atlanta during Sunday's contest, and experienced a brief period during which he tossed an interception and fumbled three times. This is a week after he committed turnovers on five occasions facing the Steelers.

Indianapolis' offensive unit thrived early in the season because Jones avoided the disaster plays. The running back and protection unit ensure Indianapolis remains able to withstand occasional setbacks, like their German performance. But Jones returning to his old blunder-prone days would end championship hopes.

Patriots Examination

New England appears fairly alike. Last season, they were considered jokes. Today, they stand as the league’s happiest surprise and the most successful franchise across the league post seven wins in a row. Had it not been for fumbling away a winnable game facing Pittsburgh, they'd possess at 9–1 as the league's best. Previously, they appeared aged and sluggish. Today they appear inexperienced, speedy and bold. Still, it’s hard to ignore the weakness of New England's opponents. They've played against the most manageable schedule across the NFL, and flaws have still emerged. Their quarterback has been sacked 35 times – among the highest totals – including particular impacts he endured during the game proved brutal. As the season progresses, those beatings accumulate.

Broncos Situation

The Broncos are 8–2 as well, and it still feels that they're barely surviving. Their quarterback has been erratic, with the attack struggling, as the defense handles the majority of the work. Without serviceable quarterback play, Denver cannot intimidate anyone in the postseason. The Chargers are also hovering in the AFC West holding a 7-2 record, but the injuries along their offensive line will create difficulties to achieve championship contention.

Steelers Examination

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh exists, inexplicably frontrunning their division even after suffering a decisive loss to Los Angeles in the evening game. They have a negative point differential, their defense too often disappears, and Aaron Rodgers’ limitations given his veteran status regularly manifest. At 5-4, they're barely clinging, however, the Ravens, with their QB returning to health and facing easier opponents, are on a three-game win streak. We shouldn't be completely astonished that the Ravens have pulled within a game of the Steelers, but that it has arrived so quickly highlights deficiencies within Pittsburgh's fluctuating form. Considering the Ravens opened the season 1-5 yet still appear likely to claim the title reveals much about the entire AFC.

Traditional Powers

Baltimore constitutes part within a trio of powerhouses – joined by Buffalo and Kansas City – driven by elite quarterback play, who would still strike the highest anxiety among competitors 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

Last week, the Bills were riding high after beating the Chiefs. On Sunday they suffered among the season's worst defeats during the campaign. They didn’t just lose versus the Dolphins; they were embarrassed, dropping a 30-13 road game. It was Miami’s first win over the Bills in over three years.

For those searching for a microcosm of the day, look no further: Allen transforming {a quarterback sneak|a short-yardage play|a sneak attempt