When it comes to the AFC South, anything could happen. This is a division that could see three teams end up finish above .500, but still see two of them miss the playoffs. It’s also a division that an 8-8 record could win the whole thing.
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Here’s your code key for this year’s 2016-17 GMS NFL Football Preview : Z = Clinches home field advantage, Y = Clinches division, X = Clinches wild card spot
Y – Indianapolis Colts: 10-6
Andrew Luck isn’t happy with how he played last year, but the Colts knew enough to still load him down with all the money in Indiana to sign him long term. As long as Luck is on this team, they’ll be a contender. Luck has plenty of playmakers on offense to help him and if he can avoid the kind of freak, car wreck injury that sidelined him last year (a lacerated kidney for God’s sake), Indianapolis should make at least a brief playoff appearance.
Good for them that they were smart in the draft and free agency, building up their defense and offensive lines. This team should start a rookie at center (Ryan Kelly) and free safety (T.J. Green) and be better for it. It shouldn’t be enough, on paper, for an AFC title run, but Luck’s presence and performance on the field makes absolutely anything possible.
Last year: 8-8, did not make the playoffs
Houston Texans: 9-7
The Texans improved their team by adding Brock Osweiler at quarterback but didn’t make a lot of other changes to a squad that barely made the playoffs last year. I’m not saying they should have or even could have upgraded much, as quarterback was the biggest hole and they filled it right as free agency began. Osweiler has been strong this preseason and routinely hooked up with first-round pick Will Fuller on deep balls. With DeAndre Hopkins and Jaelen Strong on the outside, Houston’s offensive potential could put them over the top.
They added some talent in the draft and picked up a few free agents, but if the Texans are going to make a significant move it will be with the players they fielded in their AFC Wild Card playoff debacle against Kansas City. They’ll be better, but the problem for the Texans is, so will everybody else.
Last year: 9-7, lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card round
Tennessee Titans: 7-9
This is probably the most talented Tennessee Titans roster in about seven years. They also have the worst head coach in Mike Mularkey since they moved to Tennessee. Talent vs. Bad Coaching is a real dilemma when it comes to figuring out how a team will end the season. Jeff Fisher, in his time with the Titans, was the best example. He’d field crazy good teams and lead them to 8-8 records, but every now and then they’d win 12 or 13 games and compete for an AFC title.
Why the Titans decided to jump on that crap-coaching merry-go-round again is a mystery. Marcus Mariota and a two-headed backfield of Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray and tight end Delaney Walker are all legit playmakers, but wideout is a concern. It doesn’t help that the Titans traded their best scoring threat (Dorial Green-Beckham) for a back-up offensive lineman (Dennis Kelly) .
Last year: 3-13, did not make the playoffs
Jacksonville Jaguars: 6-10
There’s plenty of reasons to get excited about the Jacksonville Jaguars based on their recent draft history and their ability to keep their own good players. What isn’t exciting is the division they play in and the schedule ahead of them. It’s loaded with 2015 playoff teams and potential playoff teams. This could be the best Jaguars team since 1999 and still not win seven games.
That being said, they could get hot with third-year quarterback Blake Bortles and a rejuvinated defensive unit. They’ve already got what might be the best wide receiver tandem in the league in Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. They added Chris Ivory in the backfield and already had T.J. Yeldon so scoring points won’t be the problem.
Last year: 5-11, did not make the playoffs
