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No league markets equal footing in the manner of the NFL: it’s the entire brand. Yet following the first ten matchups in this campaign, this isn’t a league featuring uniform distribution separating contenders, pretenders, and middle-of-the-pack clubs. It’s one where the majority of teams are merely sufficient.

NFC Standings Definition

Within the National Football Conference, to some degree, the picture becomes more distinct. Los Angeles and Seattle (both standing at seven wins, two losses) seem like the most complete teams in the NFL, and secured overwhelming triumphs in their weekend matchups. Philadelphia at 6-2 notwithstanding their difficulties continue to possess one of the most talented rosters throughout football, likewise with the Packers franchise (5-2-1 record). Even the Lions (six and three), with their fluctuating form on offense and defense and navigating tension on their coaching staff, have shown they can defeat good teams. Regarding these five teams, you can still easily put together a championship trajectory.

Muddled AFC Picture

In the AFC however, postseason landscape is a jumbled mess. The four teams leading their divisions after ten games: the Colts, Patriots, Broncos (each with 8-2 records) and Steelers (five wins, four losses). Read that again. Not the Chiefs. Not the Bills. Baltimore and Cincinnati are absent. The traditional powers, featuring the league’s best quarterbacks, have either significant personnel gaps or have been hit by injuries.

League Equality Design

From certain perspectives, this is exactly what the league wants. Yet observing the current division frontrunners in the AFC continues to seem unusual. Areas of each team meet championship standards, yet not completely. Were you questioned to commit to your conference championship predictions at this moment, could you assuredly select any one of these four teams?

Squad Examinations

Colts Situation

Starting in Indianapolis, the signal-caller hasn't descended to complete disaster level. Yet the past two games have raised concerns. He has returned to giving away possessions and faltering under duress. He suffered seven sacks versus Atlanta on Sunday, and endured a short sequence where he delivered a pick and coughed up the ball thrice. This comes after he turned the ball over five times versus Pittsburgh.

The Colts attack excelled during early games as Jones prevented catastrophic mistakes. Jonathan Taylor and the offensive line make the Colts able to withstand occasional setbacks, as demonstrated overseas. Yet Jones going back to his historically mistake-heavy play would terminate championship hopes.

New England Patriots

New England appears fairly alike. Last season, they were league laughingstocks. Now, they’re football's most unexpected success and the most successful franchise 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 be sitting a 9-1 record with the top standing. Last season, they were old and slow. Now they’re young, fast and unafraid. However, we must acknowledge the weakness of New England's opponents. They've played against the easiest slate throughout football, and flaws have still emerged. The signal-caller has been sacked on 35 occasions – the second-most in football – and some of the shots he endured during the game proved brutal. Over time, that punishment compounds.

Broncos Situation

The Broncos hold also 8-2, yet it seems that they're barely surviving. Their quarterback has shown inconsistency, with the attack struggling, as the defense handles the majority of the work. Absent adequate signal-calling, the Broncos aren’t scaring anyone in the postseason. Los Angeles remains nearby in the Western division at 7-2, however, health issues within their blocking corps will make it tough to mount a deep postseason tilt.

Steelers Examination

And then there’s Pittsburgh, surprisingly atop their division notwithstanding receiving a 25-10 defeat from the Chargers on Sunday night. They have a negative point differential, their defense regularly vanishes, with their quarterback's restrictions during his career phase regularly manifest. They maintain a 5-4 record while surviving, yet Baltimore, with Lamar Jackson healthy again and facing easier opponents, are on a three-game win streak. This development isn't entirely shocking that the Ravens have pulled to within one game of Pittsburgh, but that it has arrived so quickly is an indictment of Pittsburgh's fluctuating form. That the Ravens started losing five of six and currently seem they should win the division speaks volumes regarding the conference as a whole.

Traditional Powers

The Ravens represent a segment of the Big Three – joined by Buffalo and Kansas City – fueled by former MVP signal-callers, who could still create the greatest concern for opponents if they made the playoffs. They're the teams everyone hopes to avoid, yet Kansas City and Buffalo continue to self-destruct.

Buffalo Bills

Previously, Buffalo was celebrating after beating the Chiefs. On Sunday they suffered one of the most disappointing losses this year. They didn't merely fall versus the Dolphins; they looked terrible, losing 30-13 as visitors. This represented Miami's initial victory versus Buffalo in over three years.

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