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No professional sports organization markets competitive balance like the NFL: it's their core marketing message. Yet following ten games in this campaign, this is not a competition featuring uniform distribution between the good, the bad and the mediocre. Rather, we see a situation where the majority of teams are merely adequate.

NFC Clarity

Looking at the NFC side, at least, there is some clarity. The Rams and Seahawks (both at 7-2) seem like the most balanced franchises in football, and secured decisive victories in their weekend matchups. The 6-2 Eagles notwithstanding their difficulties maintain a deeply skilled squad across the NFL, similar to Green Bay (5-2-1 record). The Lions also (6-3), who have been inconsistent on offense and defense and have been dealing with internal staff conflicts, have shown they can defeat strong franchises. Regarding these five teams, you can still easily construct a route to the final game.

AFC Confusion

Over in the AFC, postseason landscape is thoroughly confusing. Your four division leaders through ten weeks: the Colts, Patriots, Broncos (all standing at eight wins) along with Pittsburgh (5-4). Consider that carefully. No Chiefs presence. Not the Bills. Not the Ravens or Bengals. The usual contenders, featuring the league’s best quarterbacks, possess either glaring roster weaknesses or are dealing with health issues.

League Equality Design

In some ways, this represents the NFL's perfect scenario. However, witnessing the current division frontrunners in the American Football Conference remains somewhat odd. Aspects of each franchise suggest title potential, yet not completely. Were you questioned to commit to your AFC title game selections at this moment, would you confidently select any one of the current division frontrunners?

Franchise Analysis

Indianapolis Colts

Beginning with the Colts, the signal-caller hasn't descended to complete disaster level. Yet the past two games have raised concerns. He’s back to committing turnovers and failing against blitzes. He took seven sacks versus Atlanta in the weekend game, and experienced a five-minute stretch in which he threw an interception and coughed up the ball thrice. This follows he committed turnovers five times versus Pittsburgh.

The Colts’ offense performed well initially because Jones avoided the disaster plays. The running back and protection unit mean the Colts are good enough to survive occasional setbacks, as demonstrated overseas. But Jones returning to his old blunder-prone days would end 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 after seven straight wins. Had it not been for committing turnover errors a winnable game facing Pittsburgh, they'd possess nine wins, one loss with the best record. Previously, they were old and slow. Now they’re young, fast and unafraid. However, we must acknowledge how soft the Patriots’ schedule has been. They've encountered the most manageable schedule throughout football, yet vulnerabilities remain. The signal-caller has been sacked on 35 occasions – the second-most in football – including particular impacts he absorbed on Sunday proved brutal. With continued play, those beatings accumulate.

Denver Analysis

The Broncos are eight wins similarly, yet it seems like they're nervously waiting. Bo Nix has been erratic, and the offensive unit laboring, as the defense handles all the heavy lifting. Absent adequate signal-calling, Denver cannot intimidate any playoff team. Los Angeles remains nearby in the Western division with seven wins, yet medical problems within their blocking corps will create difficulties to mount a deep postseason tilt.

Steelers Examination

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh exists, somehow still leading the Northern division notwithstanding receiving a decisive loss to Los Angeles on Sunday night. They've been outscored overall, their defense regularly vanishes, and the QB's current constraints during his career phase persistently appear. They maintain a 5-4 record while surviving, but Baltimore, with their QB returning to health and facing easier opponents, have won three consecutive. It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that the Ravens have pulled within a game of the Steelers, but how rapidly this occurred highlights deficiencies within the Steelers' uneven performances. The fact Baltimore began the season 1-5 and currently seem capable of division victory speaks volumes regarding the complete conference.

Established Contenders

The Ravens' form part of the Big Three – joined by Buffalo and Kansas City – fueled by former MVP signal-callers, who would still strike the greatest concern for opponents should they reach postseason. They're the teams everyone hopes to avoid, however, both franchises cannot get out of their own way.

Buffalo Analysis

Last week, the Bills were riding high after beating the Chiefs. During Sunday's action they experienced a particularly discouraging setback of the season. They didn’t just lose against Miami; they were embarrassed, dropping a 30-13 road game. It was Miami’s first win over the Bills in several seasons.

If you’re looking for a microcosm of the day, here you go: the quarterback converting {a quarterback sneak|a short-yardage play|a sneak attempt