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No professional sports organization promotes equal footing like the NFL: it’s the entire brand. Yet following 10 weeks during the current schedule, this is not a competition that is equally balanced among elite teams, poor performers, and average squads. Rather, we see a situation where the majority of teams is simply fine.

NFC Clarity

Within the National Football Conference, at least, there is some clarity. Los Angeles and Seattle (each holding 7-2 records) seem like the most complete teams in football, and secured overwhelming triumphs on Sunday. Philadelphia at 6-2 despite their struggles maintain among the most gifted lineups in the league, comparable to the Packers franchise (5-2-1 record). Detroit as well (six and three), despite their uneven performances along both lines of scrimmage and navigating tension on their coaching staff, have demonstrated they're capable of dominating strong franchises. Regarding these five teams, it's straightforward to construct a championship trajectory.

AFC Confusion

Over in the AFC, championship race is a jumbled mess. The current division frontrunners after ten games: the Colts, Patriots, Broncos (each with 8-2 records) and Steelers (5-4). Take another look. Kansas City isn't there. Buffalo is missing. Neither Ravens nor Bengals. Historically strong franchises, supported by elite NFL signal-callers, display either obvious team deficiencies or are dealing with health issues.

League Equality Design

In some ways, this is exactly what the league wants. But watching this year’s four division leaders in the American Football Conference remains somewhat odd. Areas of each team meet championship standards, though not comprehensively. Were you questioned to commit to your conference championship predictions today, could you assuredly choose any among these four teams?

Franchise Analysis

Colts Situation

Beginning with the Colts, the signal-caller hasn't yet achieved total collapse. However, recent performances have raised concerns. He's reverting to giving away possessions and failing against blitzes. He took seven sacks facing Atlanta during Sunday's contest, and experienced a five-minute stretch during which he tossed an intercepted pass and fumbled three times. This follows he turned the ball over five separate times versus Pittsburgh.

Indianapolis' offensive unit thrived early in the season because Jones avoided catastrophic mistakes. The running back and protection unit ensure Indianapolis remains good enough to survive periodic mistakes, as demonstrated overseas. Yet Jones going back to his historically mistake-heavy play would terminate any playoff run.

New England Patriots

New England appears relatively comparable. A year ago, they were league laughingstocks. Now, they’re football's most unexpected success and the most successful franchise in football post seven wins in a row. Except for fumbling away a winnable game against Pittsburgh, they would currently hold nine wins, one loss as the league's best. Previously, they seemed veteran and plodding. Today they appear youthful, quick and confident. Still, it’s hard to ignore how soft the Patriots’ schedule has been. They've encountered the least challenging lineup in the league, yet vulnerabilities remain. Drake Maye has been brought down on 35 occasions – the second-most in football – and some of the shots he endured during the game appeared dangerous. Over time, those hits add up.

Broncos Situation

The Broncos hold eight wins similarly, yet it seems like they're nervously waiting. The Denver signal-caller has shown inconsistency, and the offensive unit laboring, as the defense handles all the heavy lifting. Without serviceable quarterback play, Denver cannot intimidate anyone in the postseason. The Chargers are also hovering within their division with seven wins, but the injuries along their offensive line will create difficulties to achieve championship contention.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh exists, surprisingly atop the Northern division despite being thumped a 25-10 defeat from the Chargers in the evening game. They have a negative point differential, their defense too often disappears, and Aaron Rodgers’ limitations at this stage of his career regularly manifest. They’re 5–4 and holding on, but Baltimore, with their QB returning to health and the schedule softening, have won three consecutive. It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that the Ravens have pulled within a game of the Steelers, though the speed of this shift highlights deficiencies within Pittsburgh’s inconsistencies. The fact Baltimore began with a 1-5 record and still look like capable of division victory reveals much about the entire AFC.

Established Contenders

The Ravens' form part within a trio of powerhouses – joined by Buffalo and Kansas City – fueled by former MVP signal-callers, who could still create the greatest concern in opposing teams should they reach postseason. They’re the No One Wants To See ‘Em teams, yet Kansas City and Buffalo cannot get out of their own way.

Buffalo Bills

A week ago, the Bills were riding high post Chiefs triumph. This weekend they encountered one of the most disappointing losses during the campaign. They didn't simply fail against Miami; they looked terrible, falling 30-13 on the road. It was Miami’s first win over the Bills in several seasons.

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