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No professional sports organization markets competitive balance like the NFL: it's their core marketing message. Yet following ten games of this season, this is not a competition featuring uniform distribution between the good, the bad and the mediocre. It’s one where the bulk of franchises appear to be fine.

Clear Picture in NFC

In the NFC, to some degree, the picture becomes more distinct. The Rams and Seahawks (both standing at seven wins, two losses) look like the most balanced franchises in the NFL, and secured blowout wins during Sunday's action. Philadelphia at 6-2 notwithstanding their difficulties still have one of the most talented rosters across the NFL, likewise with the Packers (five wins, two losses, one tie). Detroit as well (6-3 standing), despite their uneven performances in trench play and have been dealing with internal staff conflicts, have demonstrated they can hammer good teams. Regarding these five teams, you can still easily envision a route to the final game.

AFC Confusion

Over in the AFC, postseason landscape is thoroughly confusing. Your four division leaders at this stage: Indianapolis, New England, Denver (all at 8-2) and the Steelers (five wins, four losses). Consider that carefully. Kansas City isn't there. Not the Bills. Baltimore and Cincinnati are absent. Historically strong franchises, backed by elite NFL signal-callers, have either significant personnel gaps or are dealing with health issues.

Parity Mechanics

To some extent, this is exactly what the league wants. Yet observing this season's top AFC teams within the conference continues to seem unusual. Areas of each team pass the championship smell test, though not comprehensively. If you were asked to finalize your AFC Championship game picks today, could you assuredly choose any among the current division frontrunners?

Squad Examinations

Indianapolis Outlook

First, examining Indianapolis, the signal-caller hasn’t quite reached complete disaster level. Yet the past two games have been worrying. He’s back to turning over the ball and struggling against pressure. He was sacked seven times against the Falcons during Sunday's contest, and had a five-minute stretch in which he threw an interception and lost three fumbles. This follows he committed turnovers five times against the Steelers.

The Colts’ offense excelled during early games because Jones avoided catastrophic mistakes. The running back and protection unit mean the Colts are good enough to survive some negative plays, like their German performance. But Jones returning to his previous error-filled form would finish postseason aspirations.

Patriots Examination

The Patriots seem fairly alike. Previously, they were a punchline. Currently, they represent football's most unexpected success and the strongest squad in the NFL after seven straight wins. Except for fumbling away a contest they should have won against Pittsburgh, they’d be sitting nine wins, one loss as the league's best. In the prior year, they seemed veteran and plodding. Now they’re youthful, quick and confident. However, we must acknowledge the ease of the Patriots' matchups. They have faced the least challenging lineup across the NFL, and there have still been cracks. Their quarterback has taken sacks 35 times – among the highest totals – and some of the shots he endured during the game proved brutal. Over time, those beatings accumulate.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos are 8–2 as well, and it still feels like they're nervously waiting. Bo Nix has been erratic, and the offensive unit laboring, as the defense handles most of the responsibility. Absent adequate signal-calling, the Broncos aren’t scaring anyone in the postseason. The Chargers are also contending in the Western division at 7-2, yet medical problems within their blocking corps will make it tough to achieve championship contention.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Then we have the Steelers, inexplicably frontrunning the Northern division notwithstanding receiving 25-10 by the Chargers on Sunday night. They've been outscored overall, their defense regularly vanishes, with their quarterback's restrictions at this stage of his career regularly manifest. At 5-4, they're barely clinging, yet Baltimore, with Lamar Jackson healthy again and the schedule softening, have won three consecutive. This development isn't entirely shocking that Baltimore has closed to within one game of Pittsburgh, though the speed of this shift highlights deficiencies within the Steelers' uneven performances. The fact Baltimore began losing five of six yet still appear they should win the division is telling about the entire AFC.

Traditional Powers

The Ravens' form part of the Big Three – alongside the Bills and Chiefs – driven by elite quarterback play, who could still create the highest anxiety for opponents should they reach postseason. They represent undesirable playoff matchups, however, both franchises continue to self-destruct.

Bills Struggles

A week ago, the Bills were riding high post Chiefs triumph. This weekend they encountered one of the most disappointing losses this year. They didn’t just lose versus the Dolphins; they looked terrible, dropping a 30-13 road game. It was Miami’s first win over the Bills in several seasons.

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