NFL 2018 predictions: Which team will win each division?
By Nile McNair
AFC South
1. Jaguars
2. Texans
3. Titans
4. Colts
The Jacksonville Jaguars finally won the AFC South for the first time in over 15 years last season. Coming into this upcoming 2018 season they will most likely repeat as AFC South champions, but it won’t be easy. Both the Colts and Texans are getting their franchise quarterbacks back for this season. Deshaun Watson is returning for Houston, while Andrew Luck is returning for the Colts. Not to mention the Tennessee Titans made to it the divisional round of the playoffs last season.
Jacksonville will place first because of their superior defense. Maybe the most talented defense in the league, they also finished second in yards allowed during the regular season last year. Jalen Ramsey, A.J Bouye and Calais Campbell are the All-Pro members from that defense.
For the past few seasons, the Texans have been contenders without a real franchise quarterback. Now with Watson returning, the Texans are not only contenders in their division, but also for the Super Bowl. Also, Houston gets two of their best defensive pass rushers back from injury in J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus. Houston may finish behind Jacksonville in the division this year, but it will be only by one or two games.
Tennessee found their way into the playoffs last year, but that won’t happen again this season. The Titans’ roster is not the best on either side of the ball, so they will finish record wise around 8-8. The biggest reason is that Marcus Mariota has not lived up to being a franchise quarterback yet. Mariota was the second pick in the 2015 draft and he threw more interceptions than touchdowns last season. Unless Mariota can pick up his play this season, the Titans will slide down the AFC South standings.
Although the Colts will be the worst team in the division this year, they’ll be back battling for the AFC South crown in a year or two. They have the franchise quarterback in Luck, new coach Frank Reich, and a promising general manager in Chris Ballard. But the Colts roster isn’t as complete as the other three teams in the division, and that’s why they will finish last. The offensive line, wide receiver position, and a lot of the defense needs improvement before the Colts are real contenders.