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No major competition promotes competitive balance in the manner of the NFL: it's their core marketing message. Yet following ten games during the current schedule, this isn’t a league that is equally balanced separating contenders, pretenders, and middle-of-the-pack clubs. Rather, we see a situation where most of the league are merely sufficient.

NFC Standings Definition

Within the National Football Conference, for the most part, the picture becomes more distinct. The Rams along with the Seahawks (both standing at seven wins, two losses) look like the most balanced franchises in the NFL, and delivered overwhelming triumphs on Sunday. The Eagles with six wins even with their challenges still have one of the most talented rosters throughout football, comparable to the Packers (5-2-1 record). Detroit as well (six and three), who have been inconsistent on offense and defense and navigating coaching drama, have shown they can defeat good teams. For each of these squads, you can still easily put together a championship trajectory.

Muddled AFC Picture

Turning to the American Football Conference, the playoff picture is a jumbled mess. Your four division leaders through ten weeks: the Colts, Patriots, Broncos (each with 8-2 records) and the Steelers (five wins, four losses). Consider that carefully. Kansas City isn't there. Not the Bills. Baltimore and Cincinnati are absent. The usual contenders, featuring elite NFL signal-callers, possess either significant personnel gaps or have been hit by injuries.

Competitive Balance System

From certain perspectives, it’s the league’s ideal. However, witnessing this year’s four division leaders within the conference continues to seem unusual. Areas of each team suggest title potential, but not in their entirety. If someone requested to finalize your conference championship predictions right now, could you assuredly pick any of these four teams?

Franchise Analysis

Indianapolis Colts

Beginning with the Colts, the signal-caller hasn’t quite reached complete disaster level. However, recent performances have been worrying. He’s back to giving away possessions and faltering under duress. He took seven sacks facing Atlanta in the weekend game, and experienced a five-minute stretch during which he tossed an interception and lost three fumbles. This comes after he gave away possessions five separate times against the Steelers.

The Colts’ offense thrived early in the season since Jones evaded game-changing errors. Taylor along with the blockers mean the Colts are capable of overcoming occasional setbacks, like their German performance. But Jones returning to his historically mistake-heavy play would end championship hopes.

Patriots Examination

The Patriots seem fairly alike. Last season, they were considered jokes. Currently, they represent football's most unexpected success and the most successful franchise in the NFL following seven consecutive victories. If not for committing turnover errors a winnable game facing Pittsburgh, they’d be sitting at 9–1 with the best record. Previously, they were old and slow. Now they’re youthful, quick and confident. Nevertheless, one cannot overlook how soft the Patriots’ schedule has been. They've played against the most manageable schedule in the league, and there have still been cracks. Their quarterback has been sacked 35 times – the second-most in football – and some of the shots he endured during the game appeared dangerous. As the season progresses, those hits add up.

Denver Analysis

Denver stands at 8–2 as well, and it still feels like they're nervously waiting. Their quarterback has been erratic, and the offensive unit laboring, as the defense handles the majority of the work. Without serviceable quarterback play, the Broncos aren’t scaring any playoff team. The Chargers are also hovering in the AFC West at 7-2, however, health issues along their offensive line will present challenges to mount a deep postseason tilt.

Steelers Examination

And then there’s Pittsburgh, surprisingly atop their division despite being thumped a decisive loss to Los Angeles in the evening game. Their scoring margin remains negative, their defense too often disappears, and the QB's current constraints during his career phase continue to show up. They’re 5–4 and holding on, however, the Ravens, with Lamar Jackson healthy again and the schedule softening, are on a three-game win streak. This development isn't entirely shocking that the Ravens have pulled the gap to just one game, though the speed of this shift highlights deficiencies within the Steelers' uneven performances. That the Ravens started with a 1-5 record and currently seem they should win the division speaks volumes regarding the complete conference.

Historical Favorites

The Ravens represent a segment of the Big Three – alongside the Bills and Chiefs – driven by elite quarterback play, who could still create the greatest concern for opponents if they made the playoffs. They’re the No One Wants To See ‘Em teams, yet Kansas City and Buffalo continue to self-destruct.

Bills Struggles

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 just lose against Miami; they looked terrible, dropping a 30-13 road game. This represented Miami's initial victory over the Bills in more than 1,000 days.

Should you seek a microcosm of the day, consider this: the quarterback converting {a quarterback sneak|a short-yardage play|a sneak attempt