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No professional sports organization promotes equal footing as effectively as the NFL: it's their core marketing message. However, after ten games in this campaign, this doesn't represent a landscape featuring uniform distribution among elite teams, poor performers, and average squads. Instead, it's a scenario where the bulk of franchises is simply sufficient.

Clear Picture in NFC

Looking at the NFC side, for the most part, we see clearer definition. The Rams along with the Seahawks (both at 7-2) look like the most complete teams in football, and achieved decisive victories during Sunday's action. Philadelphia at 6-2 notwithstanding their difficulties maintain one of the most talented rosters throughout football, similar to the Packers (five wins, two losses, one tie). Detroit as well (6-3), despite their uneven performances in trench play while managing tension on their coaching staff, have shown they can hammer quality opponents. For each of these squads, one can readily put together a championship trajectory.

AFC Confusion

Turning to the American Football Conference, the playoff picture is thoroughly confusing. The current division frontrunners at this stage: the Colts, Patriots, Broncos (each with 8-2 records) and Steelers (5-4 record). Consider that carefully. Not the Chiefs. Not the Bills. Neither Ravens nor Bengals. Historically strong franchises, featuring premier quarterback talent, display either glaring roster weaknesses or have suffered medical setbacks.

League Equality Design

From certain perspectives, this is exactly what the league wants. However, witnessing this year’s four division leaders in the American Football Conference continues to seem unusual. Areas of each team meet championship standards, though not comprehensively. Were you questioned to lock in your conference championship predictions today, could you assuredly pick any of the current division frontrunners?

Squad Examinations

Colts Situation

Starting in Indianapolis, Daniel Jones hasn’t quite reached complete disaster level. But the last two weeks have raised concerns. He's reverting to turning over the ball and struggling against pressure. He was sacked seven times against the Falcons during Sunday's contest, and experienced a short sequence where he delivered an interception and lost three fumbles. This is a week after he turned the ball over five separate times against the Steelers.

The Colts attack performed well initially because Jones avoided catastrophic mistakes. Taylor along with the blockers ensure Indianapolis remains capable of overcoming occasional setbacks, as they did in Berlin. However, if Jones reverts to his previous error-filled form would end postseason aspirations.

New England Patriots

The Patriots feel relatively comparable. Previously, they were considered jokes. Currently, they represent the league’s happiest surprise and the hottest team across the league after seven straight wins. Except for committing turnover errors a contest they should have won versus the Steelers, they’d be sitting a 9-1 record with the best record. In the prior year, they appeared aged and sluggish. Today they appear young, fast and unafraid. However, we must acknowledge how soft the Patriots’ schedule has been. They have faced the easiest slate in the league, yet vulnerabilities remain. The signal-caller has been brought down 35 times – the second-most in football – and some of the shots he absorbed on Sunday appeared dangerous. With continued play, those hits add up.

Broncos Situation

Denver stands at eight wins similarly, yet it seems like they're nervously waiting. The Denver signal-caller has been erratic, and the offensive unit laboring, as the defense handles the majority of the work. Without serviceable quarterback play, the Broncos won't frighten playoff opponents. Los Angeles remains nearby within their division holding a 7-2 record, yet medical problems along their offensive line will present challenges to mount a deep postseason tilt.

Pittsburgh Situation

Then we have the Steelers, inexplicably frontrunning the Northern division even after suffering a 25-10 defeat from the Chargers on Sunday night. They've been outscored overall, their defense regularly vanishes, and Aaron Rodgers’ limitations given his veteran status persistently appear. At 5-4, they're barely clinging, but Baltimore, with their QB returning to health with manageable games ahead, are riding a three-game streak. It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that the Ravens have narrowed the gap to just one game, but how rapidly this occurred highlights deficiencies within the Steelers' uneven performances. That the Ravens started losing five of six yet still appear they should win the division speaks volumes regarding the entire AFC.

Historical Favorites

The Ravens' form part of the Big Three – alongside the Bills and Chiefs – powered by their MVP quarterbacks, that would continue to generate the greatest concern for opponents if they qualified. They're the teams everyone hopes to avoid, but the Chiefs and Bills continue to self-destruct.

Buffalo Analysis

A week ago, the Bills felt confident following victory over Kansas City. During Sunday's action they experienced among the season's worst defeats during the campaign. They didn't simply fail to the Dolphins; they were embarrassed, falling 30-13 on the road. The Dolphins secured their first triumph versus Buffalo in over three years.

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