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No major competition sells parity like the NFL: it’s the entire brand. However, after 10 weeks of this season, this is not a competition with perfect equilibrium separating contenders, pretenders, and middle-of-the-pack clubs. Instead, it's a scenario where the majority of teams is simply fine.

NFC Clarity

Within the National Football Conference, for the most part, there is some clarity. Los Angeles and Seattle (each holding 7-2 records) look like the most balanced franchises in football, and secured blowout wins on Sunday. The 6-2 Eagles even with their challenges maintain a deeply skilled squad throughout football, comparable to the Packers (five wins, two losses, one tie). Even the Lions (6-3 standing), who have been inconsistent in trench play while managing tension on their coaching staff, have demonstrated they can defeat quality opponents. For all five, you can still easily construct a championship trajectory.

Muddled AFC Picture

Over in the AFC, the playoff picture remains completely chaotic. The current division frontrunners at this stage: the Colts, Patriots, Broncos (all at 8-2) and the Steelers (5-4 record). Read that again. Kansas City isn't there. Buffalo is missing. Not the Ravens or Bengals. Historically strong franchises, backed by elite NFL signal-callers, display either obvious team deficiencies or are dealing with health issues.

League Equality Design

In some ways, it’s the league’s ideal. However, witnessing the current division frontrunners in the American Football Conference remains somewhat odd. Aspects of each franchise pass the championship smell test, though not comprehensively. Were you questioned to lock in your AFC title game selections right now, would you confidently pick any of these four teams?

Squad Examinations

Indianapolis Outlook

First, examining Indianapolis, the signal-caller hasn't descended to pumpkin status. Yet the past two games have caused alarm. He’s back to turning over the ball and faltering under duress. He was sacked seven times against the Falcons in the weekend game, and had a five-minute stretch in which he threw an intercepted pass and coughed up the ball thrice. This is a week after he turned the ball over five times versus Pittsburgh.

The Colts’ offense excelled during early games because Jones avoided the disaster plays. Taylor along with the blockers ensure Indianapolis remains capable of overcoming periodic mistakes, like their German performance. But Jones returning to his historically mistake-heavy play would end championship hopes.

Patriots Examination

The Patriots seem relatively comparable. Last season, they were league laughingstocks. Today, they stand as the league’s happiest surprise and the strongest squad across the league post seven wins in a row. Had it not been for committing turnover errors a contest they should have won against Pittsburgh, they'd possess nine wins, one loss as the league's best. Previously, they seemed veteran and plodding. Currently they're young, fast and unafraid. However, we must acknowledge how soft the Patriots’ schedule has been. They've played against the easiest slate across the NFL, and there have still been cracks. Their quarterback has been sacked 35 times – among the highest totals – and some of the shots he suffered last weekend were vicious. Over time, those hits add up.

Broncos Situation

The Broncos hold also 8-2, yet it seems as if they’re holding their breath. Their quarterback has shown inconsistency, and the offense plodding, while the defensive unit provides most of the responsibility. Lacking competent QB performance, the Broncos aren’t scaring playoff opponents. The Chargers are also hovering in the AFC West holding a 7-2 record, yet medical problems affecting their protection unit will make it tough for extended playoff success.

Pittsburgh Situation

Then we have the Steelers, inexplicably frontrunning the AFC North despite being thumped 25-10 by the Chargers during prime time. They have a negative point differential, their defense regularly vanishes, and the QB's current constraints during his career phase continue to show up. They maintain a 5-4 record while surviving, but Baltimore, with Lamar Jackson healthy again and the schedule softening, have won three consecutive. We shouldn't be completely astonished that the Ravens have narrowed to within one game of Pittsburgh, though the speed of this shift highlights deficiencies within the Steelers' uneven performances. That the Ravens started the season 1-5 and currently seem capable of division victory speaks volumes regarding the conference as a whole.

Established Contenders

The Ravens represent a segment within a trio of powerhouses – joined by Buffalo and Kansas City – driven by elite quarterback play, that would continue to generate the most fear in opposing teams should they reach postseason. They represent undesirable playoff matchups, but the Chiefs and Bills cannot get out of their own way.

Bills Struggles

Last week, Buffalo was celebrating after beating the Chiefs. During Sunday's action they experienced among the season's worst defeats during the campaign. They didn't simply fail to the Dolphins; they looked terrible, dropping a 30-13 road game. This represented Miami's initial victory versus Buffalo in over three years.

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