Fall is in the air, Starbucks has started selling their Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Which means the NFL is back. It’s time to take a look across the league and give expert opinions and predictions, none of which will be wrong.
Check out the AFC West preview and predictions here.
The division of young and exciting quarterbacks is sure to be filled with ups and downs, and plenty of highlights. C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, Trevor Lawrence, and a healthy Anthony Richardson, makes the AFC South a fun division to watch.
AFC South
Houston Texans
Last season: 10-7
Prediction: 12-5
A huge year two incoming for head coach DeMeco Ryans and his QB, C.J. Stroud. With already a strong roster, they added veterans Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs on offense, in addition to Danielle Hunter, Azeez Al-Shaair, and Jeff Okudah on defense.
Everyone expects big things from Stroud in year two. I’m talking fighting for the one seed, MVP-type of expectations. DeMeco Ryans should have all the confidence in the world in his QB. This is their division to lose, and they’ll be must-watch this season.
Indianapolis Colts
Last season: 9-8
Prediction: 10-7
Anthony Richardson needs to stay out of harms way. He showed good signs last season, but was knocked out of two games because of his physicality. Once for a concussion at the end of a game, and the other a shoulder injury that knocked him out for the season.
The Colts won nine games with a first year head coach in Shane Steichen, and a backup quarterback. Offense isn’t the problem, but they can’t stop the ball. Indy’s defense was 28th in points allowed and 24th in yards allowed last season, they have to tighten that up if they want to win games with their young QB.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Last season: 9-8
Prediction: 8-9
I don’t think this is the bounce back season people are expecting from Trevor Lawrence. 21 turnovers from him last year was good for third most in the NFL. Unacceptable. I understand year one was a mess with Urban Meyer. Then year two was a breakout and playoff birth, plus a playoff win, with first year of Doug Pederson. But year three saw a huge step backwards, and a total collapse at the end of the season. Year four Lawrence may be the final shot for him to show he can be the guy that has gone number one his entire life. This was supposed to be his division to dominate…and now it isn’t.
However, the Jaguars roster is solid enough. Lawrence has good weapons with Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, Brian Thomas Jr., and Evan Engram. Darnell Savage and Arik Armstead are good additions on defense. They’re talented, but the season will come down to Lawrence’s ability to take care of the football.
Tennessee Titans
Last season: 6-11
This season: 7-10
The Titans made a splash this offseason and shocked many by spending a lot of money. Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, Tyler Boyd, Quandre Diggs, Jamal Adams, L’Jarius Sneed, and more, come in trying to get the Titans back on top of the South. Rebuild!? What rebuild!?
Unfortunately, I think this season turns into some sort of a mess. A lot of shiny names, but that doesn’t always translate to results. Firing Mike Vrabel will prove to be the wrong move, because he always got the most out of his teams. Given the financial investment made with this roster, they feel destined to underperform. However, I am very interested to see Levis’ development now that he has some established talent around him.
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