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No professional sports organization sells parity like the NFL: it’s the entire brand. But through 10 weeks 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, we see clearer definition. The Rams and Seahawks (each holding 7-2 records) look like the most well-rounded squads in the NFL, and achieved decisive victories on Sunday. The Eagles with six wins notwithstanding their difficulties still have among the most gifted lineups in the league, likewise with Green Bay (5-2-1 record). Even the Lions (six and three), who have been inconsistent on offense and defense while managing internal staff conflicts, have demonstrated they can defeat strong franchises. For all five, it's straightforward to envision a route to the final game.

AFC Confusion

In the AFC however, postseason landscape is a jumbled mess. Your four division leaders at this stage: the Colts, Patriots, Broncos (all at 8-2) and Steelers (5-4). Consider that carefully. Kansas City isn't there. Buffalo is missing. Baltimore and Cincinnati are absent. Historically strong franchises, backed by premier quarterback talent, have either glaring roster weaknesses or have been hit by injuries.

League Equality Design

From certain perspectives, this represents the NFL's perfect scenario. But watching this year’s four division leaders in the AFC still feels strange. Aspects of each franchise meet championship standards, but not in their entirety. If someone requested to finalize your AFC title game selections at this moment, would you comfortably pick any of these four teams?

Team Breakdowns

Indianapolis Outlook

Starting in Indianapolis, the signal-caller hasn't descended to complete disaster level. Yet the past two games have been worrying. He’s back to turning over the ball and failing against blitzes. He was sacked seven times against the Falcons on Sunday, and experienced a short sequence in which he threw a pick and fumbled three times. This is a week after he committed turnovers five separate times facing the Steelers.

Indianapolis' offensive unit thrived early in the season as Jones prevented the disaster plays. The running back and protection unit make the Colts capable of overcoming periodic mistakes, as they did in Berlin. But Jones returning to his old blunder-prone days would finish championship hopes.

New England Patriots

New England appears relatively comparable. A year ago, they were league laughingstocks. Currently, they represent football's most unexpected success and the hottest team across the league post seven wins in a row. If not for committing turnover errors a contest they should have won facing Pittsburgh, they would currently hold at 9–1 as the league's best. Previously, they appeared aged and sluggish. Currently they're young, fast and unafraid. Nevertheless, one cannot overlook the ease of the Patriots' matchups. They've played against the easiest slate throughout football, and there have still been cracks. Drake Maye has taken sacks 35 times – among the highest totals – and some of the shots he absorbed on Sunday proved brutal. Over time, those beatings accumulate.

Denver Analysis

The Broncos are 8–2 as well, yet it seems that they're barely surviving. Their quarterback has performed unevenly, and the offensive unit laboring, as the defense handles most of the responsibility. Absent adequate signal-calling, the Broncos aren’t scaring any playoff team. The Chargers are also contending in the AFC West with seven wins, yet medical problems within their blocking corps will present challenges to achieve championship contention.

Pittsburgh Steelers

And then there’s Pittsburgh, inexplicably frontrunning the AFC North notwithstanding receiving a decisive loss to Los Angeles on Sunday night. They've been outscored overall, their defensive unit frequently falters, with their quarterback's restrictions at this stage of his career continue to show up. At 5-4, they're barely clinging, yet Baltimore, with their QB returning to health and facing easier opponents, have won three consecutive. This development isn't entirely shocking that the Ravens have narrowed the gap to just one game, but that it has arrived so quickly highlights deficiencies within Pittsburgh's fluctuating form. Considering the Ravens opened with a 1-5 record yet still appear likely to claim the title speaks volumes regarding the conference as a whole.

Historical Favorites

The Ravens represent a segment of the Big Three – together with Bills and Chiefs – powered by their MVP quarterbacks, who could still create the most fear among competitors should they reach postseason. They represent undesirable playoff matchups, but the Chiefs and Bills persistently undermine themselves.

Bills Struggles

Previously, the Bills were riding high following victory over Kansas City. On Sunday they suffered among the season's worst defeats during the campaign. They didn't merely fall to the Dolphins; they suffered humiliation, losing 30-13 as visitors. The Dolphins secured their first triumph versus Buffalo in more than 1,000 days.

For those searching for a microcosm of the day, here you go: the quarterback converting {a quarterback sneak|a short-yardage play|a sneak attempt