Inside: OurAFC South preview, the place a up to now forgettable department has no less than 3 contenders within the Jaguars, Texans and Colts. Plus: NFL soccer this night! Construct of!
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AFC South Preview
The Texans arrived in 2002, forcing the league to reconsider each little factor, along with divisions. That resulted within the creation of the AFC South, which added the Colts (up to now within the AFC East), Jaguars (AFC Central) and Titans (AFC Central).
It hasn’t been a cast neighborhood. Amongst divisions, the AFC South has the ground successful percentage (.476) and the longest Massive Bowl drought (19 years), and it’s miles the best neighborhood with more than one groups (Jaguars and Texans) to by no means manufacture a Massive Bowl.
However issues are taking a look out up. The Jaguars and Texans had been among the AFC’s most sensible groups remaining 12 months, while the Colts started 8-2 faster than a rash of accidents ended in a gradual-season give blueprint. Tennessee has … recent recent jerseys? Cam Ward?
Jacksonville Jaguars
(13-4, misplaced in wild-card round)
Headline change: Misplaced veterans. Huge establish linebacker Devin Lloyd signed with the Panthers, working toughen Travis Etienne is in New Orleans, and corner Greg Newsome joined the Giants. The Jaguars stuffed the ones gaps with inside ability, which blueprint avid players so much like working toughen Bhayshul Tuten are breakout applicants.
Delicate change: Continuity. Because the above chart makes particular, each projected starter was as soon as at the roster remaining season. That consistency is efficacious for trainer Liam Coen, an elite play caller whose Jaguars started 4-3 and averaged 20.9 portions according to game until settling in. They then become the NFL’s maximum up-to-the-minute crew, completing 9-1 and rating moment in portions according to game (32.8) after Week 8, with wins over the Broncos and Chargers.
Lingering quiz: What will Travis Hunter supply? The Jaguars need help within the secondary and are expected to play Hunter at cornerback on a fleshy-time foundation, with occasional reps at receiver. He’s noticeably larger than remaining season, which should quiet help the twin-threat discontinue wholesome.
Projection: 10-7. This crew might be tested early subsequent season, going during the Broncos, Patriots, Bengals, Eagles and Texans faster than Week 7. However after the Jaguars performed one fourth-down finish a ways from beating the Bills within the postseason, don’t be stunned to secret agent Jacksonville manufacture with double-digit wins for the second one consecutive season, a primary for the franchise within the 2000s.
Houston Texans
(12-5, misplaced in divisional round)
Headline: C.J. Stroud’s degree to-it 12 months. It’s simple in charge atmosphere for Stroud’s persisted regression, however backup QB Davis Generators was as soon as 3-0 as a starter remaining season with wins against the Jaguars, Bills and Titans. The 25-year-archaic Stroud has to dance toughen from remaining 12 months’s playoff disaster. This coverage merits higher.
Delicate: Made over inside line. The Texans reached on middle Keylan Rutledge in this 12 months’s first round, signed three-time Professional Bowl guard Wyatt Teller and signed eight-year veteran Braden Smith from the Colts to play suitable taste out. That should quiet help Stroud function conveniently from the pocket. Further importantly, it’ll help their lumber game.
Inquire of: Can they lumber the ball? Houston was as soon as the league’s second-worst rushing crew on first downs (through every yards according to lift and expected portions added). Nobody advised them? The Texans stubbornly ran the ball on first downs on the league’s fifth-perfect charge, which put Stroud within the toughen of time table and in predictable passing situations. The enhanced line, plus the addition of working toughen David Montgomery, should quiet help there.
Projection: 9-8. After its Week 6 bye remaining 12 months, Houston closed the season with a 7-2 document in a single-rating video video games, which contributed to an excellent 12-5 document. I’m skeptical the Texans repeat that during opposition to one in all the league’s toughest schedules (7th overall). And even I’m correct quiet dissatisfied about my 2025 darkhorse Massive Bowl select dropping a winnable game in New England? If Stroud takes a step and the lumber game emerges, this crew may also moreover manufacture atop the AFC. There’s a broad-differ proper right here, given how proficient the security is.
Indianapolis Colts
(8-9 in 2025)
Headline: Daniel Jones’ recovery. Achilles accidents are notoriously not simple within the first 12 months of recovery, and Jones depends upon his legs final usually. All opinions are certain, with Jones taking a look out interesting while taking each first-team catch in practices. “He turns out fancy he by no means were given injury,” tight stay Mo Alie-Cox mentioned.
Delicate: A wholesome coverage. While the quarterback’s injury ruled headlines, the Colts’ give blueprint moreover coincided with quite a few accidents to defensive stars so much like DeForest Buckner, Charvarius Ward and Sauce Gardner. In Weeks 1-7, a wholesome Colts coverage ranked fourth in defensive EPA according to play. They are Ted Nguyen’s select for a breakout in 2026.
Inquire of: Can their linebackers send? Zaire Franklin had a down 12 months and was as soon as traded to Inexperienced Bay this offseason, modified through second-spherical rookie CJ Allen and archaic Bengal Akeem Davis-Gaither. This is the crew’s best weak point.
Projection: 10-7. The time table lightens after a brutal opening slate of the Ravens, Chiefs and Texans, so don’t worry if the Colts contain a dropping document through Week 4. Here is a cast crew: Philip Rivers nearly beat the eventual Massive Bowl champion Seahawks with those Colts, in spite of the undeniable fact that they did manufacture 2025 with seven instantly losses.
Tennessee Titans
(3-14 in 2025)
Headline: Hiring trainer Robert Saleh. Love when trainer Mike Vrabel arrived in New England, Saleh’s first tear in Tennessee was as soon as to spend in moderation on fortifying the roster. The Titans spent additional on unfastened brokers than any various NFL crew, along with 3 of the pinnacle-20 avid players available.
Delicate: Tricky defensive line. The Titans’ pairing of unfastened agent John Franklin-Myers with All-Professional Jeffery Simmons makes them one in all 4 groups with more than one avid players technique the head of Bleacher Painting’s defensive linemen ratings. Already among the league’s toughest lumber defenses (fewest yards faster than touch allowed), Tennessee desires to be even higher in that regard this season.
Inquire of: Does Cam Ward contain plentiful guns? Brief reply: probably not. Remaining 12 months was as soon as painful for the archaic No. 1 select, whose primary receiver was as soon as tight stay Chig Okonkwo (56 receptions, 560 yards, two TDs). To take on that, Tennessee spent the No. 4 select on receiver Carnell Tate and signed underrated slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. Abundant? TBD.
Projection: 5-12. BetMGM set the Titans’ protected overall at 6.5, however I don’t consider plentiful to be overly confident that Saleh and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll orchestrate a Yr 1 turnaround fancy Vrabel’s. Possibly after including Jeremiah Smith within the 2027 draft?
Further Components
👀 Hall of Popularity Recreation. It’s the unusual time you’ll be contented to glimpse Kenny Pickett’s Panthers rob on Carson Beck’s Cardinals, even though Jeremiyah Love is sitting. The game starts this night at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Further details proper right here.
🗺 Defensive traits. Ted Nguyen spoke to defensive coaches, who defined why the 2-excessive safety pattern is true right here to discontinue. Blame Patrick Mahomes.
🦵Adam Vinatieri would possibly neatly according to probability be the not possible participant to ever manufacture the Hall of Popularity. Zak Keefer stocks the tale of ways Vinatieri’s occupation nearly ended after 4 video video games.
🏆 Drew Brees is officially a Hall of Famer after the Saints took a chance at the injured unfastened agent, whom Dolphins scientific employees didn’t accept as true with. Larry Holder revisits that self-discipline.
📊 Projecting wins. Vic Tafur’s over/under protected totals for all 32 groups are charge revisiting as we way kickoff. Thirty-four days!
▶️ Maximum-clicked: All of the items Jourdan Rodrigue discovered about Tucker Kraft and the Packers while visiting Inexperienced Bay.
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