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No league sells equal footing as effectively as the NFL: it’s the entire brand. Yet following ten games in this campaign, this is not a competition that is equally balanced among elite teams, poor performers, and average squads. It’s one where the majority of teams appear to be adequate.

NFC Clarity

Within the National Football Conference, to some degree, the picture becomes more distinct. Los Angeles and Seattle (each holding 7-2 records) look like the most complete teams in the NFL, and delivered overwhelming triumphs on Sunday. The Eagles with six wins even with their challenges maintain one of the most talented rosters in the league, comparable to the Packers (5-2-1). The Lions also (six and three), who have been inconsistent in trench play and have been dealing with internal staff conflicts, have shown they can defeat quality opponents. For all five, you can still easily put together a route to the final game.

AFC Confusion

Over in the AFC, postseason landscape is a jumbled mess. Your four division leaders through ten weeks: Indianapolis, New England, Denver (all at 8-2) along with Pittsburgh (five wins, four losses). Read that again. Not the Chiefs. Not the Bills. Not the Ravens or Bengals. The traditional powers, featuring the league’s best quarterbacks, display either obvious team deficiencies or have been hit by injuries.

Parity Mechanics

In some ways, it’s the league’s ideal. However, witnessing this year’s four division leaders in the AFC continues to seem unusual. Components of every squad pass the championship smell test, yet not completely. If you were asked to lock in your AFC title game selections right now, would you comfortably select any one of the current division frontrunners?

Squad Examinations

Indianapolis Outlook

Beginning with the Colts, their quarterback hasn’t quite reached total collapse. But the last two weeks have caused alarm. He's reverting to giving away possessions and faltering under duress. He was sacked seven times versus Atlanta on Sunday, and experienced a five-minute stretch during which he tossed a pick and coughed up the ball thrice. This comes after he gave away possessions five separate times against the Steelers.

The Colts’ offense performed well initially since Jones evaded catastrophic mistakes. Jonathan Taylor and the offensive line mean the Colts are good enough to survive some negative plays, as they did in Berlin. Yet Jones going back to his old blunder-prone days would end any playoff run.

New England Analysis

New England appears fairly alike. A year ago, they were considered jokes. Today, they stand as the NFL's most pleasant shock and the most successful franchise across the league post seven wins in a row. Except for committing turnover errors a winnable game versus the Steelers, they'd possess a 9-1 record with the best record. Previously, they appeared aged and sluggish. Currently they're youthful, quick and confident. Still, it’s hard to ignore how soft the Patriots’ schedule has been. They have faced the least challenging lineup throughout football, yet vulnerabilities remain. Drake Maye has been brought down 35 times – among the highest totals – including particular impacts he suffered last weekend were vicious. Over time, those beatings accumulate.

Denver Analysis

The Broncos hold eight wins similarly, yet it seems like they're nervously waiting. The Denver signal-caller has been erratic, with the attack struggling, as the defense handles most of the responsibility. Lacking competent QB performance, the Broncos aren’t scaring anyone in the postseason. Los Angeles remains nearby within their division holding a 7-2 record, but the injuries within their blocking corps will make it tough to achieve championship contention.

Steelers Examination

And then there’s Pittsburgh, inexplicably frontrunning the Northern division despite being thumped a 25-10 defeat from the Chargers on Sunday night. Their scoring margin remains negative, their defense regularly vanishes, with their quarterback's restrictions given his veteran status regularly manifest. They maintain a 5-4 record while surviving, but Baltimore, featuring a recovered Jackson and facing easier opponents, are on a three-game win streak. It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that Baltimore has closed within a game of the Steelers, though the speed of this shift represents criticism toward Pittsburgh's fluctuating form. The fact Baltimore began losing five of six and still look like they should win the division reveals much about the complete conference.

Historical Favorites

The Ravens' form part of the Big Three – together with Bills and Chiefs – powered by their MVP quarterbacks, who would still strike the greatest concern for opponents if they qualified. They're the teams everyone hopes to avoid, however, both franchises cannot get out of their own way.

Buffalo Analysis

Last week, the Bills felt confident post Chiefs triumph. This weekend they encountered a particularly discouraging setback this year. They didn't merely fall against Miami; they were embarrassed, falling 30-13 on the road. The Dolphins secured their first triumph against Buffalo in more than 1,000 days.

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