AFC South sees four potential champions
The AFC South is a mess. Depending on your viewpoint and allegiances, it’s either hideous or interesting, and nothing in between.
Going into Week 6, the Jacksonville Jaguars are leading the foursome with a 3-2 mark, while the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans are all sitting a game off the pace at 2-3.
Jacksonville has gotten to the top of the heap with a punishing defense, built largely on the back on strong drafts in recent years and some wise free-agent additions. The Jaguars selected Yannick Ngakoue, Myles Jack and Jalen Ramsey in 2016, all while signing Calais Campbell, Barry Church, A.J. Bouye, Tashaun Gipson and Malik Jackson over the past two offseasons.
All of this has been able to overcome the shortcomings of the passing game, which has been nothing short of a disaster. Blake Bortles has been relegated to a borderline bystander. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend, Bortles completed 8-of-14 throws for 95 yards with a touchdown and an interception. On the year, Bortles has 827 passing yards with seven touchdowns and four picks while completing 54.8 percent of his throws.
Of course, there are challengers nipping at the Jaguars’ heels. The Texans are a game under .500 but have the most dynamic rookie quarterback in the league with Deshaun Watson, who has thrown for nine touchdowns over the past two weeks. However, Houston unfortunately lost both Whitney Mercilus and J.J. Watt for the season on Sunday night against the Kansas City Chiefs in a 42-34 defeat, creating some issues on the defensive side.
Still, Watson has revitalized an offense that has been dead for the decade. With Lamar Miller and DeAndre Hopkins in tow, the Texans have an opportunity to outscore some teams, starting with the Cleveland Browns at NRG Stadium this weekend.
The Titans and Colts square off against each other at Nissan Stadium on Monday night, with the loser in rough shape. Indianapolis has somehow kept itself in the race without Andrew Luck, winning a pair of games against the San Francisco 49ers and Browns. Luck is practicing and should be back soon, perhaps giving fans in the Hoosier State some hope.
Meanwhile, the Titans also have uncertainty at the quarterback spot with Marcus Mariota working his way back from a hamstring injury. If Mariota can’t go, it’s the Matt Cassel Experience again, something that nobody wants to see.
Regardless of who lines up under center, the Titans need to win at home. After being the popular pick to win the South in the preseason, Tennessee has fallen on hard times.
Still, with 12 weeks left in the season, this division is up for grabs for all four participants.
