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No league markets equal footing like the NFL: it’s the entire brand. However, after the first ten matchups in this campaign, this doesn't represent a landscape with perfect equilibrium separating contenders, pretenders, and middle-of-the-pack clubs. Rather, we see a situation where the majority of teams are merely adequate.

Clear Picture in NFC

Looking at the NFC side, for the most part, there is some clarity. The Rams and Seahawks (each holding 7-2 records) look like the most well-rounded squads in the NFL, and secured blowout wins on Sunday. The 6-2 Eagles even with their challenges continue to possess among the most gifted lineups across the NFL, similar to the Packers (5-2-1 record). Even the Lions (6-3 standing), who have been inconsistent along both lines of scrimmage and have been dealing with coaching drama, have demonstrated they can defeat quality opponents. For all five, you can still easily construct a route to the final game.

AFC Confusion

Turning to the American Football Conference, the playoff picture remains completely chaotic. The current division frontrunners after ten games: Indianapolis, New England, Denver (all at 8-2) and the Steelers (5-4). Consider that carefully. Not the Chiefs. Buffalo is missing. Not the Ravens or Bengals. Historically strong franchises, backed by elite NFL signal-callers, display either significant personnel gaps or have suffered medical setbacks.

Parity Mechanics

From certain perspectives, it’s the league’s ideal. Yet observing this season's top AFC teams in the AFC still feels strange. Areas of each team pass the championship smell test, but not in their entirety. If you were asked to commit to your AFC Championship game picks at this moment, could you assuredly choose any among these four teams?

Franchise Analysis

Indianapolis Colts

Beginning with the Colts, Daniel Jones hasn't yet achieved pumpkin status. Yet the past two games have caused alarm. He has returned to turning over the ball and failing against blitzes. He was sacked seven times versus Atlanta on Sunday, and endured a short sequence where he delivered a pick and lost three fumbles. This is a week after he committed turnovers five times facing the Steelers.

The Colts attack performed well initially as Jones prevented the disaster plays. Jonathan Taylor and the offensive line mean the Colts are able to withstand periodic mistakes, as they did in Berlin. Yet Jones going back to his historically mistake-heavy play would terminate any playoff run.

Patriots Examination

New England appears fairly alike. Previously, they were considered jokes. Now, they’re the NFL's most pleasant shock and the hottest team across the league after seven straight wins. If not for losing due to fumbles a winnable game against Pittsburgh, they'd possess a 9-1 record with the top standing. In the prior year, they appeared aged and sluggish. Currently they're inexperienced, speedy and bold. Nevertheless, one cannot overlook how soft the Patriots’ schedule has been. They have faced the least challenging lineup in the league, and flaws have still emerged. Drake Maye has been brought down on 35 occasions – among the highest totals – and some of the shots he suffered last weekend proved brutal. As the season progresses, those hits add up.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos hold also 8-2, and it still feels that they're barely surviving. The Denver signal-caller has been erratic, with the attack struggling, as the defense handles most of the responsibility. Absent adequate signal-calling, the Broncos aren’t scaring any playoff team. The Chargers are also hovering in the Western division with seven wins, but the injuries within their blocking corps will create difficulties to achieve championship contention.

Steelers Examination

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh exists, inexplicably frontrunning the AFC North even after suffering 25-10 by the Chargers on Sunday night. Their scoring margin remains negative, their defense regularly vanishes, with their quarterback's restrictions at this stage of his career regularly manifest. They maintain a 5-4 record while surviving, yet Baltimore, 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 narrowed to within one game of Pittsburgh, though the speed of this shift is an indictment of Pittsburgh's fluctuating form. Considering the Ravens opened with a 1-5 record yet still appear capable of division victory is telling about the entire AFC.

Traditional Powers

The Ravens' form part within a trio of powerhouses – joined by Buffalo and Kansas City – driven by elite quarterback play, who could still create the highest anxiety among competitors if they made the playoffs. They represent undesirable playoff matchups, but the Chiefs and Bills continue to self-destruct.

Buffalo Analysis

Previously, the Bills were riding high after beating the Chiefs. This weekend they encountered a particularly discouraging setback during the campaign. They didn't merely fall against Miami; they looked terrible, losing 30-13 as visitors. This represented Miami's initial victory against Buffalo in more than 1,000 days.

For those searching for an example representing the day, look no further: Josh Allen turning {a quarterback sneak|a short-yardage play|a sneak attempt