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No major competition promotes competitive balance like the NFL: it's their core marketing message. However, after ten games of this season, this isn’t a league with perfect equilibrium separating contenders, pretenders, and middle-of-the-pack clubs. Rather, we see a situation where the majority of teams appear to be adequate.

NFC Clarity

Within the National Football Conference, for the most part, the picture becomes more distinct. The Rams and Seahawks (both at 7-2) appear to be the most well-rounded squads across the league, and delivered overwhelming triumphs on Sunday. Philadelphia at 6-2 despite their struggles continue to possess among the most gifted lineups throughout football, similar to Green Bay (5-2-1). Detroit as well (six and three), with their fluctuating form in trench play while managing tension on their coaching staff, have shown they can defeat strong franchises. For all five, you can still easily construct a route to the final game.

Muddled AFC Picture

Turning to the American Football Conference, the playoff picture remains completely chaotic. Your four division leaders through ten weeks: the Colts, Patriots, Broncos (each with 8-2 records) along with Pittsburgh (5-4 record). Take another look. Kansas City isn't there. Not the Bills. Neither Ravens nor Bengals. The usual contenders, featuring premier quarterback talent, display either significant personnel gaps or have suffered medical setbacks.

Competitive Balance System

From certain perspectives, this is exactly what the league wants. However, witnessing this year’s four division leaders in the American Football Conference still feels strange. Aspects of each franchise suggest title potential, yet not completely. Were you questioned to lock in your AFC Championship game picks at this moment, could you assuredly pick any of the four division leaders?

Franchise Analysis

Colts Situation

First, examining Indianapolis, their quarterback hasn't descended to total collapse. However, recent performances have been worrying. He's reverting to committing turnovers and failing against blitzes. He took seven sacks versus Atlanta on Sunday, and had a short sequence where he delivered an interception and coughed up the ball thrice. This is a week after he committed turnovers on five occasions facing the Steelers.

The Colts attack thrived early in the season since Jones evaded the disaster plays. The running back and protection unit ensure Indianapolis remains good enough to survive some negative plays, as they did in Berlin. But Jones returning to his previous error-filled form would end postseason aspirations.

New England Patriots

The Patriots feel relatively comparable. A year ago, they were league laughingstocks. Today, they stand as the league’s happiest surprise and the strongest squad in the NFL post seven wins in a row. Except for fumbling away a winnable game facing Pittsburgh, they would currently hold at 9–1 with the best record. In the prior year, 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 encountered the least challenging lineup across the NFL, yet vulnerabilities remain. Their quarterback has been brought down thirty-five times – ranking second league-wide – with several hits he absorbed on Sunday proved brutal. As the season progresses, those hits add up.

Denver Analysis

The Broncos are eight wins similarly, and it still feels like they're nervously waiting. Bo Nix has shown inconsistency, and the offense plodding, while the defensive unit provides most of the responsibility. Absent adequate signal-calling, Denver cannot intimidate any playoff team. The Chargers are also contending within their division holding a 7-2 record, however, health issues affecting their protection unit will present challenges for extended playoff success.

Pittsburgh Steelers

And then there’s Pittsburgh, surprisingly atop the AFC North notwithstanding receiving 25-10 by the Chargers on Sunday night. Their scoring margin remains negative, their defensive unit frequently falters, with their quarterback's restrictions given his veteran status regularly manifest. At 5-4, they're barely clinging, however, the Ravens, featuring a recovered Jackson and facing easier opponents, are on a three-game win streak. This development isn't entirely shocking that the Ravens have pulled the gap to just one game, but that it has arrived so quickly is an indictment of Pittsburgh’s inconsistencies. That the Ravens started with a 1-5 record yet still appear likely to claim the title is telling about the complete conference.

Historical Favorites

The Ravens' form part of the Big Three – joined by Buffalo and Kansas City – powered by their MVP quarterbacks, who could still create the greatest concern for opponents if they qualified. They're the teams everyone hopes to avoid, however, both franchises persistently undermine themselves.

Buffalo Bills

Last week, the Bills were riding high after beating the Chiefs. During Sunday's action they experienced among the season's worst defeats of the season. They didn't simply fail versus the Dolphins; they were embarrassed, falling 30-13 on the road. It was Miami’s first win against Buffalo in over three years.

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