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No professional sports organization promotes equal footing as effectively as the NFL: it's their core marketing message. But through 10 weeks in this campaign, this isn’t a league that is equally balanced among elite teams, poor performers, and average squads. Instead, it's a scenario where the majority of teams are merely adequate.

Clear Picture in NFC

Within the National Football Conference, to some degree, there is some clarity. The Rams along with the Seahawks (both standing at seven wins, two losses) appear to be the most complete teams across the league, and achieved overwhelming triumphs during Sunday's action. The Eagles with six wins despite their struggles continue to possess one of the most talented rosters across the NFL, likewise with the Packers (five wins, two losses, one tie). The Lions also (6-3), who have been inconsistent on offense and defense and have been dealing with tension on their coaching staff, have proven they're capable of dominating quality opponents. Regarding these five teams, it's straightforward to put together a Super Bowl path.

Muddled AFC Picture

Over in the AFC, championship race is a jumbled mess. The current division frontrunners after ten games: Indianapolis, New England, Denver (each with 8-2 records) and Steelers (five wins, four losses). Read that again. No Chiefs presence. Buffalo is missing. Baltimore and Cincinnati are absent. Historically strong franchises, featuring the league’s best quarterbacks, have either significant personnel gaps or have been hit by injuries.

League Equality Design

In some ways, this is exactly what the league wants. Yet observing the current division frontrunners within the conference still feels strange. Aspects of each franchise pass the championship smell test, yet not completely. If you were asked to commit to your AFC Championship game picks at this moment, would you comfortably pick any of the current division frontrunners?

Franchise Analysis

Indianapolis Outlook

Beginning with the Colts, the signal-caller hasn’t quite reached complete disaster level. Yet the past two games have raised concerns. He's reverting to giving away possessions and struggling against pressure. He took seven sacks versus Atlanta in the weekend game, and experienced a brief period during which he tossed a pick and fumbled three times. This is a week after he committed turnovers five separate times against the Steelers.

The Colts attack performed well initially as Jones prevented catastrophic mistakes. Taylor along with the blockers mean the Colts are good enough to survive occasional setbacks, as they did in Berlin. However, if Jones reverts to his old blunder-prone days would finish championship hopes.

New England Analysis

New England appears relatively comparable. Previously, they were considered jokes. Today, they stand as the league’s happiest surprise and the strongest squad across the league following seven consecutive victories. Except for losing due to fumbles a manageable matchup facing Pittsburgh, they'd possess at 9–1 with the best record. Last season, they seemed veteran and plodding. Today they appear youthful, quick and confident. However, we must acknowledge the weakness of New England's opponents. They've encountered the least challenging lineup throughout football, and there have still been cracks. Their quarterback has been brought down thirty-five times – the second-most in football – including particular impacts he suffered last weekend proved brutal. Over time, those hits add up.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos hold 8–2 as well, yet it seems like they're nervously waiting. Their quarterback has shown inconsistency, and the offensive unit laboring, while the defensive unit provides all the heavy lifting. Without serviceable quarterback play, the Broncos won't frighten any playoff team. The Chargers are also contending within their division at 7-2, but the injuries along their offensive line will create difficulties for extended playoff success.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Then we have the Steelers, surprisingly atop the Northern division notwithstanding receiving a decisive loss to Los Angeles on Sunday night. They've been outscored overall, their defense too often disappears, and the QB's current constraints given his veteran status persistently appear. They maintain a 5-4 record while surviving, however, the Ravens, with their QB returning to health with manageable games ahead, 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, but how rapidly this occurred highlights deficiencies within Pittsburgh’s inconsistencies. That the Ravens started the season 1-5 yet still appear likely to claim the title reveals much about the entire AFC.

Established Contenders

The Ravens' form part among three elite teams – joined by Buffalo and Kansas City – fueled by former MVP signal-callers, that would continue to generate the highest anxiety for opponents if they qualified. They represent undesirable playoff matchups, but the Chiefs and Bills persistently undermine themselves.

Bills Struggles

Last week, the Bills were riding high following victory over Kansas City. This weekend they encountered 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 over three years.

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