The AFC South didn’t have a great in 2021 and it doesn’t look to have gotten a whole lot better this time around. Harsh? Possibly but it is hard to see a genuine Super Bowl contender in the division. This year it looks like the Colts might win it by default, unless Trevor Lawrence suddenly becomes the QB he was in college.
Image: Jamie Lamor Thompson/Shutterstock.com
Anything can happen but as things stand it looks like the Colts & Titans will slug it out for the title and we don’t expect the other to be a wildcard. The Jags season will go the way of Trevor Lawrence and they might surprise a few people. They look to be on the up but they may need another season before really competing. This leaves the Houston Texans who have what looks like a threadbare squad again. Still, they have piled up the draft capital for 2023 so their future is brighter.
2021 Finishing Record
Tennessee Titans 12-5
Indianapolis Colts 9-8
Houston Texans 4-13
Jacksonville Jaguars 3-14
Titans made the postseason and were a tad unlucky to lose to the eventual Super Bowl Finalists Cinncinati.
AFC South Predicted Finish.
1st Indianapolis Colts
The Colts looked odds on to make the playoffs, but a couple of almost inexplicable final losses cost them a place. It also brought an abrupt end to the Carson Wentz experiment. He has been replaced by veteran QB Matt Ryan and this is why we have them winning the division. If Matt Ryan still has some juice in the tank the Colts should be good enough to sneak double-digit wins and with it the title.
Jonathan Taylor looks set for another good season and he has a solid O-Line to block for him. They didn’t do a whole lot in free agency but that’s no biggie given they were solid enough outside of their QB play.
2nd Tennessee Titans
The Titans managed 12 wins last year, but seven of those were by 3 points or less! Things have a habit of evening themselves out in the NFL and they might not be so lucky in 2022. They traded their main WR A.J.Brown to the Eagles but did sign a replacement with the first-round pick they received in exchange. They will be hard to beat again but we can’t see 12 wins and they might struggle to reach double figures.
3rd Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags had money to burn in free agency and they lit quite a bonfire with it. Christian Kirk arrived in a $72 million deal and they have also added Zay Jones to their WR stable. The O-line looks much improved too plus they have really beefed up the defense. All four of their early draft picks went this side of the ball plus they added some good players in free agency.
Moving on from Urban Meyer will remove much of the distraction and new head coach Doug Peterson is of course a Super Bowl winner.
4th Houston Texans
The Texans are still in rebuild mode but at least they have a load of draft picks in 2023. They are adding bits but overall their roster looks full of holes. We think they might struggle to better last season’s win total.
AFC South Final Wins Total
Indianapolis Colts 11-6
Tennessee Titans 9-8
Jacksonville Jaguars 7-10
Houston Texans 4-13
So there you have it our predictions for the AFC South which looks like being a two-team race again. Watch out for the Jags though, they could surprise a few teams this year.
While you are here why not check out our other AFC East Posts or have a go at some of our NFL Quizzes. Go on have a go and don’t forget to share?
