Credit: NFL.com
NFL Predictions and Opinons: AFC South Edition
Published: Tuesday, July 30, 2024
by Ryan Nelke and Chris Heite
The AFC South was once considered one of the worst divisions in the NFL. It has now become quite the competitive group of talent, as the Texans, Jaguars, and Colts vie for spots in the playoff picture. Sorry Titans fans, you still have some work to do.
Following a spectacular rookie year by sensation CJ Stroud, the Texans went out and made some big splashes, picking up RB Joe Mixon, WR Stefon Diggs, and DE Danielle Hunter. The Jags locked up QB Trevor Lawrence on a massive $55 million deal, and replaced the departed Calvin Ridley with former Bills wideout Gabe Davis. The Colts mainly focused on re-signing their guys this offseason, as well as getting Anthony Richardson back after a season-ending injury. Finally, the Titans went out and made some big free-agent acquisitions, including WR Calvin Ridley and RB Tony Pollard, while trading for star CB L’Jarius Sneed. However, they did lose their franchise centerpiece RB Derrick Henry to the Ravens. With that all in mind, let’s get into our predictions for the AFC South…
The Houston Texans
It’s rare in the NFL nowadays to see a rookie quarterback take the league by storm the way CJ Stroud did in his first season. Winning the South, as well as picking up a playoff win, are signs of great success to come. However, the Texans are no longer underdogs, and must live up to their expectations as favorites to win the South. The addition of Mixon gives them a viable threat on the ground and the Diggs acquisition gives them a three-headed monster in the receiving game alongside Nico Collins and Tank Dell. The defensive signings of Danielle Hunter, Denico Autry, and Azeez Al-Shaair buff up their front seven, which should create more pressure on their opposing QBs this season. With these big additions, this Houston team will be able to win the division with an 11-6 record. It should be interesting to see how far the second-year quarterback can take them come playoff time.
-Ryan Nelke
The Texans have been one of the worst teams in recent years, commonly being the laughing
stock. That is until last year, with the team led by standout rookie CJ Stroud, who
excelled coming out of the season with a playoff win. Many people were unsure how
good Stroud would be, but he sure proved all the haters wrong. He will be a QB to
look out for in the coming years. Besides Stroud, the Texans’ offense has reached
the level of what many would consider elite, with the new additions of Joe Mixon and
Stefon Diggs. With those three, along with an already solid offense and good defense,
the Texans will be a big name to look out for this season. Could they make a run to
the Super Bowl? Maybe. They are going to be a big contender in the AFC this season,
for sure. I have the Texans finishing 14-3, winning the AFC, and being the one seed
in the playoffs.
-Chris Heite
The Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags sat at 8-3 last season and were already pre-selling their playoff tickets, until the floor caved underneath them, losing five of their final six to rid them of postseason play. The road back to the playoffs won’t be an easy one, as with the Texans and Colts on the rise, plus a packed AFC Wild Card picture, spots in January are at a premium. In search of getting back to the postseason, the Jags showed (through a seismic deal) that they are all in on Trevor Lawrence, but let Calvin Ridley walk in favor of signing Gabe Davis and drafting Brian Thomas Jr. With a receiver room of Kirk, Davis, and Thomas Jr., it should be interesting to see if one of them can step up and fill the role of T-Law’s alpha target. The signing of Arik Armstead helps fix up the interior D-line issues, and forms a formidable pass rush alongside Josh Allen and Travon Walker. At the end of the day, these new additions should contribute to the Jaguars' success this year. I have them going 10-7, but a crucial Week 18 loss to Indianapolis will keep them locked out of this year’s AFC playoff picture again.
-Ryan Nelke
Well, it’s safe to say the Jaguars made some new friends in the playoff race last
season, as their collapse helped the Steelers sneak into the playoffs. With a solid
8-3 start, the Jaguars managed to have one of the biggest late-season letdowns of
an NFL team in recent memory, missing the playoffs altogether. It was a very disappointing
season as a whole, and it left the fans with many questions going into the new season.
The Jags will stick with the solid Trevor Lawrence for years to come after the new
contract, and they hope it’ll pay off for them in the long run. Lawrence has certainly
been solid in the past few years, but many fans questioned if it is too soon to give
him that big of a contract. The Jags drafted and only got a few new players, but I
do believe they will be solid. They have a good QB with a solid offense and a solid
defense led by star Josh Hines-Allen. Even with a solid team, I unfortunately have
them missing the playoffs this year with a 7-10 record. The AFC is simply too tough
for Jags football in January.
-Chris Heite
The Indianapolis Colts
After a season cut short by injuries last year, Anthony Richardson will get the opportunity once again to lead the Colts for the 2024 season. Immediately he showed signs of an elite dual-threat quarterback, and it should be exciting to finally see him and Jonathan Taylor paired up in the backfield. Through the receiving game, with Indy re-signing Michael Pittman Jr., and drafting Adonai Mitchell in the second round, we will see if Richardson can develop himself as a respectable passer as well. Outside of the draft and re-signing their players, the Colts didn’t do much else, but also did not lose any big stars. This will most likely be a developmental and learning year for Richardson, as I can envision early bumps along the road for him, but at the end of the season, it won’t be all too bad. The Colts will finish 8-9 and miss the playoffs, but finish the season with five straight wins, giving their fanbase hope for the 2025 campaign.
-Ryan Nelke
Colts and NFL fans alike were intrigued by QB Anthony Richardson and were curious
to see how well he would do in the league. Fans certainly saw some elite potential
in him, but his time was cut short due to his season-ending shoulder injury. However,
the 2024 season is in the past, and there is a lot of potential with him returning
to an already solid Colts offense. With Jonathan Taylor returning to the backfield
for yet another season, it will certainly be interesting to see how Richardson and
his running back play against the tough AFC opponents. While the defense has never
really been anything special for Indy, they still have proven to be solid in big games.
I do believe Richardson will succeed, but not without the rookie learning curve, something
he didn’t get to experience in his cut-short first year. I believe this will be a
rebound year for the Colts, and it will be one of the “we’ll get them next year” seasons.
The 2025 Colts will be a team to watch for sure. Unfortunately, I have the 2024 Colts
at 6-11, missing the playoffs.
-Chris Heite
The Tennessee Titans
The Titans went out and made some big moves on both sides of the ball, but their upcoming season will come down to how far Will Levis can take them. Levis showed flashes in his rookie season, but only threw for eight touchdowns in nine games, with half of them coming in his debut. Tennessee certainly trusts him enough to go out and put weapons around him like Ridley and Pollard, in addition to the already-rostered DeAndre Hopkins and Tyjae Spears. On the defensive side of the ball, the back end of the Titans' defense has a whole new look, spearheaded by L’Jarius Sneed, Chido Awuzie, and Jamal Adams, who could create big problems for opposing teams’ receiving this year. However, just like I said, this season will come down to Levis. I’m not sold, especially in an AFC where only the best of the best will reach the playoffs. I have the Titans going 5-12, finishing last in the South.
-Ryan Nelke
The Titans have certainly had a few rocky past few seasons, but fans hope second-year
QB Will Levis will be the answer to all their problems. Levis had a decent rookie
season, but not one that could be compared to a start like Stroud. I am not moved
by Levis, and I think he’ll just be another Ryan Fitzpatrick. Even though the Titans
lost Derrick Henry, they still have a solid offense led by DeAndre Hopkins. The defense
also looks pretty solid with the key veteran Jamal Adams. While there is some great
talent on the Titans roster this year, I believe that Levis will not step up to the
task, with the team having another season ending in disappointment. I have the Titans
missing the playoffs with a less-than-stellar 3-14 record.
-Chris Heite
Ryan Nelke’s Projected AFC South Standings
1) Texans (11-6)
2) Jaguars (10-7)
3) Colts (8-9)
4) Titans (5-12)
Chris Heite’s Projected AFC South Standings
1) Texans (14-3), #1 Overall Seed
2) Jaguars (7-10)
3) Colts (6-11)
4) Titans (3-14)
The AFC South certainly will be an interesting division to watch this season. We will
see how it pans out when the NFL season kicks off on September 5th.
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