The NFL’s ‘any given Sunday’ motto has never been more true

The NFL prides itself on its competitive balance with the 2021 season proving as unpredictable as ever

The Dallas Cowboys are one of a number of unpredictable teams (Getty Images)

"On any given Sunday," as the famous phrase goes, "any team can beat any other team".

It's the adage that American football hangs on to most with the sport built from its foundations to promote competitiveness and the Al Pacino film of the same name a big-screen cult classic.

The NFL's balance from top to bottom is what separates it from its rivals both in the United States and further afield with the very real promise that "any team can beat any other team" often proving true.

It has never been more the case than in the 2021 season where, as the year approaches the crucial home stretch, who will emerge as Super Bowl champions looking as unclear as it has ever been.

The wise old heads often suggest that any season doesn't really begin until after Thanksgiving with teams, coaches and players often battling themselves as much as others over the early slate as they try and work just who they are and, more importantly, who they are going to be as the campaign reaches the business end.

With Turkey day now in the rear-view mirror now is the time for the contenders to emerge from the ranks of the pretenders and seize their opportunity at a run at the Vince Lombardi trophy when February comes around.

Who that will be really is anyone's guess with no real dominant team yet to lift themselves above the chasing pack.

The Arizona Cardinals perhaps boast the best case so far having, as they do, the league's best record. But with star quarterback Kyler Murray absent for the last month with injury they feel somewhat on pause until he returns.

In his absence the Green Bay Packers have emerged as the class of the NFC in recent weeks with Aaron Rodgers looking more and more like what he is - the reigning MVP. They aren't without their flaws, however, and fell to the Minnesota Vikings just a fortnight ago. Do that again in what could be a crowded NFC playoffs at the top end and it'll be all over before the big game just as it has been the last two years.

A month ago the Dallas Cowboys looked like they might sweep all before them but surprise losses to Denver and Las Vegas have questions again being asked. The Los Angeles Rams also looked a real challenger back in October but back-to-back-to-back losses have them spiralling backwards.

Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams have struggled in recent weeks (Getty Images)

Over in the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens currently hold the number one seed but fresh from a four-interception game from Lamar Jackson it's hard to know what to expect from them week to week with a tough slate to come.

The Tennessee Titans looked like they would literally and figuratively run away with matters a few weeks ago but, shorn of star running back Derrick Henry and a mounting number of others through injury, have crashed back to earth.

The Buffalo Bills at times look set to deliver on their pre-season promise as conference favourites but stinkers against Jacksonville and Indianapolis amongst others have onlookers concerned.

New England are the form horse and head into this closing run on the back of a six-game winning streak. Rookie QB Mac Jones is excelling and head coach Bill Belichick is cooking up defensive magic once more. How the Pats perform when the competition tightens up will determine how far they will go.

With six regular season weeks remaining there is time for teams to lock up playoff positions and for others to rise to the challenge of joining them.

In a league and a season where anything can seemingly happen on any given Sunday, the only certainty is the uncertainty of how it will all play out.