From Floored to Flawed – Does Anyone Want to Secure the Big Game In the Current Year?

No professional sports organization markets equal footing in the manner of the NFL: it defines their identity. However, after 10 weeks during the current schedule, this is not a competition that is equally balanced between the good, the bad and the mediocre. It’s one where the majority of teams is simply sufficient.

NFC Standings Definition

Within the National Football Conference, for the most part, there is some clarity. Los Angeles and Seattle (each holding 7-2 records) look like the most complete teams in football, and delivered overwhelming triumphs during Sunday's action. The 6-2 Eagles notwithstanding their difficulties maintain one of the most talented rosters across the NFL, comparable to the Packers franchise (5-2-1 record). The Lions also (6-3 standing), despite their uneven performances along both lines of scrimmage and navigating coaching drama, have shown they can hammer strong franchises. Regarding these five teams, one can readily construct a championship trajectory.

AFC Confusion

Over in the AFC, postseason landscape is thoroughly confusing. The four teams leading their divisions at this stage: Indianapolis, New England, Denver (all standing at eight wins) and the Steelers (5-4). Read that again. Kansas City isn't there. No Bills inclusion. Neither Ravens nor Bengals. Historically strong franchises, supported by the league’s best quarterbacks, display either significant personnel gaps or are dealing with health issues.

League Equality Design

In some ways, this is exactly what the league wants. Yet observing this year’s four division leaders in the AFC still feels strange. Aspects of each franchise pass the championship smell test, but not in their entirety. If someone requested to commit to your AFC title game selections today, could you assuredly select any one of the four division leaders?

Franchise Analysis

Indianapolis Colts

First, examining Indianapolis, their quarterback hasn't yet achieved pumpkin status. But the last two weeks have caused alarm. He's reverting to giving away possessions and failing against blitzes. He suffered seven sacks against the Falcons in the weekend game, and experienced a five-minute stretch in which he threw an intercepted pass and lost three fumbles. This is a week after he gave away possessions five times against the Steelers.

The Colts’ offense excelled during early games since Jones evaded catastrophic mistakes. Jonathan Taylor and the offensive line mean the Colts are good enough to survive periodic mistakes, as they did in Berlin. But Jones returning to his historically mistake-heavy play would end championship hopes.

New England Patriots

New England appears fairly alike. Last season, they were league laughingstocks. Now, they’re football's most unexpected success and the strongest squad in football after seven straight wins. Except for losing due to fumbles a winnable game versus the Steelers, they would currently hold a 9-1 record as the league's best. In the prior year, they seemed veteran and plodding. Now they’re young, fast and unafraid. However, we must acknowledge the weakness of New England's opponents. They've played against the easiest slate throughout football, and there have still been cracks. The signal-caller has taken sacks 35 times – the second-most in football – with several hits he endured during the game appeared dangerous. With continued play, those beatings accumulate.

Denver Analysis

The Broncos are 8–2 as well, yet it seems as if they’re holding their breath. Bo Nix has shown inconsistency, and the offensive unit laboring, as the defense handles the majority of the work. Lacking competent QB performance, the Broncos aren’t scaring playoff opponents. The Chargers are also contending in the Western division with seven wins, but the injuries affecting their protection unit will present challenges for extended playoff success.

Pittsburgh Situation

Then we have the Steelers, surprisingly atop their division even after suffering a 25-10 defeat from the Chargers in the evening game. Their scoring margin remains negative, their defense regularly vanishes, and Aaron Rodgers’ limitations given his veteran status persistently appear. They maintain a 5-4 record while surviving, but Baltimore, featuring a recovered Jackson and facing easier opponents, are on a three-game win streak. This development isn't entirely shocking that Baltimore has closed to within one game of Pittsburgh, though the speed of this shift is an indictment of Pittsburgh's fluctuating form. The fact Baltimore began with a 1-5 record yet still appear capable of division victory reveals much about the entire AFC.

Historical Favorites

The Ravens represent a segment among three elite teams – together with Bills and Chiefs – fueled by former MVP signal-callers, who could still create the highest anxiety for opponents if they qualified. They represent undesirable playoff matchups, but the Chiefs and Bills persistently undermine themselves.

Buffalo Analysis

Last week, the Bills felt confident after beating the Chiefs. This weekend they encountered among the season's worst defeats of the season. They didn't simply fail versus the Dolphins; they looked terrible, dropping a 30-13 road game. This represented Miami's initial victory versus Buffalo in more than 1,000 days.

Should you seek a perfect summary of Sunday, consider this: the quarterback converting {a quarterback sneak|a short-yardage play|a sneak attempt