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No professional sports organization sells competitive balance as effectively as the NFL: it’s the entire brand. Yet following ten games of this season, this is not a competition that is equally balanced separating contenders, pretenders, and middle-of-the-pack clubs. Instead, it's a scenario where the bulk of franchises are merely sufficient.

NFC Standings Definition

In the NFC, for the most part, there is some clarity. Los Angeles and Seattle (both at 7-2) look like the most complete teams in football, and delivered decisive victories in their weekend matchups. The 6-2 Eagles even with their challenges still have among the most gifted lineups throughout football, similar to the Packers franchise (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, you can still easily construct a route to the final game.

Muddled AFC Picture

Turning to the American Football Conference, the playoff picture is thoroughly confusing. Your four division leaders through ten weeks: the Colts, Patriots, Broncos (each with 8-2 records) and Steelers (five wins, four losses). Read that again. No Chiefs presence. Buffalo is missing. Not the Ravens or Bengals. The traditional powers, featuring premier quarterback talent, possess either glaring roster weaknesses or have been hit by injuries.

Competitive Balance System

To some extent, this is exactly what the league wants. Yet observing this year’s four division leaders in the American Football Conference still feels strange. Areas of each team meet championship standards, though not comprehensively. If you were asked to finalize your AFC Championship game picks today, would you confidently select any one of the four division leaders?

Franchise Analysis

Indianapolis Colts

Starting in Indianapolis, the signal-caller hasn't yet achieved total collapse. Yet the past two games have caused alarm. He has returned to turning over the ball and failing against blitzes. He took seven sacks against the Falcons during Sunday's contest, and experienced a five-minute stretch where he delivered a pick and coughed up the ball thrice. This comes after he turned the ball over five times against the Steelers.

The Colts attack thrived early in the season 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. However, if Jones reverts to his previous error-filled form would terminate any playoff run.

Patriots Examination

New England appears fairly alike. Previously, they were league laughingstocks. Now, they’re football's most unexpected success and the most successful franchise in football following seven consecutive victories. If not for fumbling away a winnable game versus the Steelers, they'd possess nine wins, one loss with the best record. Previously, they appeared aged and sluggish. Today they appear young, fast and unafraid. Nevertheless, one cannot overlook the weakness of New England's opponents. They have faced the easiest slate in the league, yet vulnerabilities remain. The signal-caller has taken sacks 35 times – the second-most in football – and some of the shots he suffered last weekend were vicious. With continued play, those beatings accumulate.

Denver Analysis

Denver stands at 8–2 as well, and the perception remains like they're nervously waiting. Bo Nix has shown inconsistency, with the attack struggling, as the defense handles the majority of the work. Lacking competent QB performance, the Broncos aren’t scaring anyone in the postseason. The Chargers are also contending within their division with seven wins, yet medical problems within their blocking corps will present challenges to achieve championship contention.

Steelers Examination

Then we have the Steelers, surprisingly atop the Northern division even after suffering a decisive loss to Los Angeles during prime time. Their scoring margin remains negative, their defense regularly vanishes, with their quarterback's restrictions given his veteran status persistently appear. They’re 5–4 and holding on, but Baltimore, with their QB returning to health and facing easier opponents, are on a three-game win streak. We shouldn't be completely astonished that Baltimore has closed within a game of the Steelers, but that it has arrived so quickly is an indictment of the Steelers' uneven performances. Considering the Ravens opened with a 1-5 record and currently seem likely to claim the title is telling about the entire AFC.

Traditional Powers

The Ravens represent a segment within a trio of powerhouses – joined by Buffalo and Kansas City – powered by their MVP quarterbacks, who would still strike the greatest concern for opponents if they made the playoffs. They’re the No One Wants To See ‘Em teams, yet Kansas City and Buffalo cannot get out of their own way.

Buffalo Analysis

Last week, the Bills felt confident post Chiefs triumph. This weekend they encountered one of the most disappointing losses of the season. They didn't simply fail versus the Dolphins; they suffered humiliation, falling 30-13 on the road. It was Miami’s first win against Buffalo in over three years.

For those searching for a perfect summary of Sunday, consider this: Allen transforming {a quarterback sneak|a short-yardage play|a sneak attempt