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No professional sports organization markets parity like the NFL: it’s the entire brand. Yet following ten games of this season, this is not a competition with perfect equilibrium separating contenders, pretenders, and middle-of-the-pack clubs. Instead, it's a scenario where the bulk of franchises are merely adequate.

NFC Clarity

Within the National Football Conference, to some degree, there is some clarity. Los Angeles and Seattle (both standing at seven wins, two losses) seem like the most balanced franchises in football, and achieved overwhelming triumphs during Sunday's action. The 6-2 Eagles notwithstanding their difficulties maintain a deeply skilled squad in the league, similar to the Packers (five wins, two losses, one tie). The Lions also (6-3 standing), with their fluctuating form along both lines of scrimmage and have been dealing with internal staff conflicts, have shown they can defeat quality opponents. For all five, one can readily put together a Super Bowl path.

AFC Confusion

Over in the AFC, postseason landscape is a jumbled mess. The current division frontrunners through ten weeks: the Colts, Patriots, Broncos (all at 8-2) and Steelers (five wins, four losses). Read that again. Not the Chiefs. No Bills inclusion. Not the Ravens or Bengals. The usual contenders, featuring elite NFL signal-callers, have either glaring roster weaknesses or have been hit by injuries.

Parity Mechanics

From certain perspectives, it’s the league’s ideal. However, witnessing this year’s four division leaders in the AFC still feels strange. Components of every squad pass the championship smell test, yet not completely. Were you questioned to commit to your AFC title game selections at this moment, could you assuredly choose any among the four division leaders?

Franchise Analysis

Indianapolis Colts

Beginning with the Colts, the signal-caller hasn't yet achieved complete disaster level. However, recent performances have been worrying. He's reverting to turning over the ball and failing against blitzes. He suffered seven sacks versus Atlanta in the weekend game, and experienced a short sequence in which he threw an intercepted pass and coughed up the ball thrice. This comes after he gave away possessions on five occasions facing the Steelers.

The Colts attack thrived early in the season because Jones avoided the disaster plays. Taylor along with the blockers make the Colts able to withstand occasional setbacks, like their German performance. However, if Jones reverts to his old blunder-prone days would finish any playoff run.

Patriots Examination

New England appears somewhat similar. Last season, they were considered jokes. Now, they’re football's most unexpected success and the hottest team in football following seven consecutive victories. Except for fumbling away a winnable game against Pittsburgh, they would currently hold at 9–1 with the best record. In the prior year, they appeared aged and sluggish. Today they appear inexperienced, speedy and bold. However, we must acknowledge the weakness of New England's opponents. They've played against the least challenging lineup across the NFL, and there have still been cracks. The signal-caller has taken sacks 35 times – among the highest totals – including particular impacts he absorbed on Sunday were vicious. As the season progresses, those beatings accumulate.

Broncos Situation

The Broncos hold eight wins similarly, and the perception remains that they're barely surviving. The Denver signal-caller has shown inconsistency, and the offense plodding, as the defense handles most of the responsibility. Without serviceable quarterback play, Denver cannot intimidate playoff opponents. The Chargers are also contending in the AFC West with seven wins, but the injuries along their offensive line will create difficulties to mount a deep postseason tilt.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh exists, surprisingly atop the AFC North even after suffering a decisive loss to Los Angeles during prime time. They have a negative point differential, their defense too often disappears, and Aaron Rodgers’ limitations at this stage of his career continue to show up. They maintain a 5-4 record while surviving, however, the Ravens, featuring a recovered Jackson and the schedule softening, have won three consecutive. We shouldn't be completely astonished that the Ravens have pulled within a game of the Steelers, but that it has arrived so quickly highlights deficiencies within Pittsburgh’s inconsistencies. That the Ravens started losing five of six and still look like likely to claim the title speaks volumes regarding the conference as a whole.

Established Contenders

The Ravens' form part within a trio of powerhouses – joined by Buffalo and Kansas City – powered by their MVP quarterbacks, that would continue to generate the most fear in opposing teams should they reach postseason. They're the teams everyone hopes to avoid, but the Chiefs and Bills continue to self-destruct.

Bills Struggles

A week ago, Buffalo was celebrating after beating the Chiefs. This weekend they encountered one of the most disappointing losses during the campaign. They didn't merely fall to the Dolphins; they looked terrible, losing 30-13 as visitors. The Dolphins secured their first triumph against Buffalo in more than 1,000 days.

If you’re looking for a microcosm of the day, consider this: Allen transforming {a quarterback sneak|a short-yardage play|a sneak attempt