The AFC South has had a lot of movement this offseason that could shake things up this year. With quarterbacks coming and leaving, to some of the best running backs in the NFL, this division has the potential to be electric this year. The Tennessee Titans have won two consecutive AFC South championships, but this could be the year that someone ends that streak.
Can the Texans Compete in this Division?
The Houston Texans had a season to forget in 2021, finishing 4-13. The Texans were in every headline because of Deshaun Watson, but now with him in Cleveland, they can finally move on and get a fresh start. The Texans had the worst offensive ranking in the NFL last year. Therefore, if they want to compete in this division, they need to step up on the offensive side. Davis Mills is coming into his second year as a starter and new addition, Marlon Mack, will help Mills in the backfield and take some pressure off the young quarterback. Veteran Brandin Cooks will be the WR1 and will need to have a great season if this team has a chance. I see this offense moving up a couple spots in the offensive rankings, but not much.
The Texans defense finished the 2021 season ranked 27th in the NFL. You’re not going to win many games when your defense can’t get stops. This defense needs to gel together and do whatever they can to help their offense get some positive field position. I think the Texans are still in a rebuild, therefore I believe they will finish in fourth place in the AFC South with a record of 4-13.
Will the Jaguars Have a Bounce Back Season?
The Jacksonville Jaguars had a very disappointing 2021 season, finishing 3-14. Rookie quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, did not live up to his potential. Being a starting rookie quarterback in the NFL is never easy, and with that being said, I believe Lawrence will have a bounce back sophomore season. The Jaguars offense finished the 2021 season ranked 27th in the NFL. If they want to compete in this division, they need to make some changes, which is what they did. They added WR Christian Kirk and TE Evan Engram. Kirk will take over the WR1 role and Marvin Jones will slide down to WR2, which will be two great weapons for Lawrence.
The Jaguars could have one of the best backfields in the NFL with Travis Etienne and James Robinson. Etienne had a season ending injury last year, but has the potential to be a top 10 running back this year. Look out for these two to put up some monster numbers this year as a duo. The Jaguars had the 28th ranked defense last year and added Travon Walker with the #1 draft pick this offseason. This is a very young defense, and with some experience, I believe they will make a huge impact in the coming years. I believe the Jaguars will finish 7-10 this year, but will continue to get better each year as their experience grows. Look out for the Jaguars in a couple years!
Can the Titans Get the #1 AFC Seed Again?
The Titans finished the 2021 season with the best record in the AFC at 12-5. They lost Derrick Henry for most of the season and still managed to have the best record in the conference. Having a healthy Derrick Henry to start the season is a major bonus for the Titans, but they lost their two best wide receivers in AJ Brown and Julio Jones. Therefore, the Titans went out and signed Robert Woods, who will get the WR1 spot. Woods had a season ending injury last season with the Rams, who went on to win the Super Bowl. This offense could be very good this year, but it all depends on if they can stay healthy.
The main reason for the Titans success in 2021 was because of their defense. Their defense finished ranked 6th in the NFL and was a force to be reckoned with. This Titans defense is very experienced which is what an NFL team needs if they want to be successful. With that being said, I believe the Titans will finish the season with a record of 10-7 and secure a Wild Card spot.
Can the Colts Win the AFC South?
The Colts had a disappointing 2021 season, finishing 9-8. They thought Carson Wentz was the answer they needed at quarterback, but that wasn’t the case. The Colts signed veteran Matt Ryan this offseason, which gives them the veteran leader they need under center. Matt Ryan will have Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell, and Mo Alie-Cox as his three main targets to throw to. The Colts have the best running back in the NFL, Jonathan Taylor. Taylor finished the 2021 season with 1,811 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Taylor has proved to be the most versatile running back in the league and with the best offensive line in the NFL, I believe he has the potential to reach 2,000 rushing yards this season.
The Colts had the 10th ranked defense this past season and made their defense even stronger this offseason. The Colts added Stephon Gilmore and Yannick Ngakoue to their already top 10 defense. These two will be added to the starting lineup right away and fill the holes that this defense had. Look for these two to have breakout seasons and for this defense to jump up in the defensive rankings. With that being said, I believe the Colts will finish the season with a 11-6 record and win the AFC South.
