There is no denying that Week 3 was wild in the NFL. That is especially true when it comes to the AFC South. Weeks 1 and 2 saw the division vying for the title of worst division in the league. Week 3 saw the opposite as the South took down three teams that are in what was billed as the best division in NFL history by some.
Texans and Bears
The Texans were the lone duds in the AFC South this week, as they were unable to maintain their first half lead Sunday. The Texans were up 17 to 13 near the start of the third quarter before Chicago took the lead about halfway through, making it 20-17. The Texans were able to tie it up with under a minute left but were unable to stop the Bears from moving down the field and kicking a game winning field goal.
It was a tough loss for the Texans, and a rough showing for Davis Mills who threw two interceptions. The Texans remain the lone winless team in the AFC South and have a couple of tough games coming up against the Chargers, Jags, Raiders, Titans, and Eagles. It’s not unlikely that they remain winless for the next month.
Titans and Raiders
The Titans were able to hold off a late surge from the Raiders in what was an absolute barn burner of a matchup. The Titans came out of the gates big and went up on the Raiders 24-10 at halftime. However, in what has been a consistent issue with the Titans this season, the second half saw them stall on offense. They were unable to score a single point after the break. The Raiders, however, picked up a pair of field goals and a touchdown near the end of the fourth quarter. It may have been the Titans best performance of the season, but there are still many kinks to iron out.
Colts and Chiefs
In the first big shock of the week, and possibly the season, the struggling Colts beat the Chiefs in another nailbiter. Many fans and analysts had the Colts as the worst team in the division heading into Week 3. Some even had them as the worst team in the league. Instead, the Colts played how many expected them to play before the season starter. Matt Ryan had a solid outing, but the biggest asset to the Colts was their defense, which held the high-powered Chiefs offense to just 17 points.
Jags and Chargers
If the Colts defeating the Chiefs wasn’t the biggest surprise of the week, then the Jags dismantling the Chargers probably was. Some folks had the Chargers winning the AFC West while being legitimate Superbowl contenders. The Jaguars have looked like a decent team through two weeks, although not like a legitimate contender. After Week 3, it may be time to reevaluate that notion. The Jags held the Chargers to only 10 points. The offense also went on to torch the Chargers for 38 points.
State of the Division
The AFC South entered Week 3 in tatters. No one was winning in particularly solid fashion. No team really dominated both sides of the ball for an entire game. The AFC West was touted as one of the best divisions this season. Some even echoed the sentiment that it could be the best division in NFL history. Weeks like Week 3 are what make the NFL glorious. The division went from struggling to knocking off three likely playoff teams. A team that was supposed to be the worst beat what was supposed to be the best.
If the AFC South can continue to improve on their impressive showing, it could become a juggernaut of a division.
Want More Titans and Other Football Content?
Give me a follow on Twitter at @Drewtherighter or over on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AndrewTheRighter/ for more football content.