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No professional sports organization sells parity in the manner of the NFL: it's their core marketing message. But through 10 weeks in this campaign, this isn’t a league featuring uniform distribution between the good, the bad and the mediocre. Rather, we see a situation where the bulk of franchises appear to be fine.

NFC Standings Definition

Within the National Football Conference, to some degree, we see clearer definition. The Rams and Seahawks (each holding 7-2 records) look like the most balanced franchises across the league, and achieved overwhelming triumphs during Sunday's action. Philadelphia at 6-2 despite their struggles still have one of the most talented rosters throughout football, likewise with Green Bay (five wins, two losses, one tie). The Lions also (six and three), despite their uneven performances along both lines of scrimmage while managing internal staff conflicts, have proven they're capable of dominating quality opponents. For all five, it's straightforward to construct a Super Bowl path.

AFC Playoff Chaos

In the AFC however, the playoff picture remains completely chaotic. Your four division leaders through ten weeks: Indianapolis, New England, Denver (each with 8-2 records) along with Pittsburgh (five wins, four losses). Read that again. Kansas City isn't there. No Bills inclusion. Baltimore and Cincinnati are absent. The usual contenders, featuring premier quarterback talent, display either significant personnel gaps or have suffered medical setbacks.

Parity Mechanics

In some ways, it’s the league’s ideal. However, witnessing this season's top AFC teams 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 at this moment, could you assuredly select any one of these four teams?

Franchise Analysis

Colts Situation

Beginning with the Colts, the signal-caller hasn’t quite reached pumpkin status. However, recent performances have raised concerns. He's reverting to committing turnovers and failing against blitzes. He was sacked seven times versus Atlanta in the weekend game, and endured a five-minute stretch where he delivered a pick and coughed up the ball thrice. This is a week after he gave away possessions on five occasions against the Steelers.

Indianapolis' offensive unit excelled during early games because Jones avoided catastrophic mistakes. Jonathan Taylor and the offensive line ensure Indianapolis remains good enough to survive occasional setbacks, as they did in Berlin. Yet Jones going back to his historically mistake-heavy play would terminate any playoff run.

Patriots Examination

The Patriots feel somewhat similar. A year ago, they were considered jokes. Now, they’re the NFL's most pleasant shock and the most successful franchise across the league following seven consecutive victories. Except for losing due to fumbles a manageable matchup facing Pittsburgh, they’d be sitting a 9-1 record as the league's best. Previously, they seemed veteran and plodding. Now they’re young, fast and unafraid. However, we must acknowledge the ease of the Patriots' matchups. They've played against the easiest slate throughout football, yet vulnerabilities remain. Their quarterback has been brought down thirty-five times – the second-most in football – with several hits he suffered last weekend appeared dangerous. With continued play, those hits add up.

Broncos Situation

The Broncos are 8–2 as well, and the perception remains that they're barely surviving. The Denver signal-caller has been erratic, and the offensive unit laboring, as the defense handles all the heavy lifting. Without serviceable quarterback play, the Broncos won't frighten any playoff team. The Chargers are also hovering within their division at 7-2, however, health issues affecting their protection unit will present challenges for extended playoff success.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Then we have the Steelers, surprisingly atop the AFC North even after suffering a 25-10 defeat from the Chargers during prime time. They've been outscored overall, their defense regularly vanishes, with their quarterback's restrictions during his career phase continue to show up. They’re 5–4 and holding on, yet Baltimore, with their QB returning to health and the schedule softening, are riding a three-game streak. It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that the Ravens have narrowed to within one game of Pittsburgh, though the speed of this shift represents criticism toward Pittsburgh's fluctuating form. Considering the Ravens opened losing five of six and still look like likely to claim the title reveals much about the conference as a whole.

Traditional Powers

Baltimore constitutes part among three elite teams – joined by Buffalo and Kansas City – powered by their MVP quarterbacks, who would still strike the highest anxiety for opponents if they made the playoffs. They represent undesirable playoff matchups, yet Kansas City and Buffalo continue to self-destruct.

Buffalo Analysis

Last week, Buffalo was celebrating after beating the Chiefs. During Sunday's action they experienced among the season's worst defeats during the campaign. They didn’t just lose versus the Dolphins; they looked terrible, dropping a 30-13 road game. The Dolphins secured their first triumph over the Bills in more than 1,000 days.

Should you seek a microcosm of the day, consider this: Allen transforming {a quarterback sneak|a short-yardage play|a sneak attempt