AFC South: Week 16 Preview and Predictions

When the Houston Texans defeated the Indianapolis Colts 29-17 on Sunday, they officially clinched the AFC South. That was pretty much expected to happen, but after their drubbing at the hands of the New England Patriots the week before, many doubted the Texans’ long-term chances of success in the playoffs this season. Still, they answered the doubters at least for one week. As things wind down this season, the Colts still have a good shot at the playoffs, while the Titans and Jaguars have none at all. However, that doesn’t mean there can’t be some entertaining games left on the regular season slate – and some golden opportunities for gamblers, too. Let’s take a look at the Week 16 action in the AFC South and make some predictions.

Tennessee Titans (+12) at Green Bay Packers, Sunday, 1:00 p.m. EST

The Titans are a tough team to nail down. They overperform one week and lay an egg the next. Similarly, the same Green Bay team never shows up two weeks in a row. After they squeaked out a close one against the Bears on Sunday (with a major assist from the officials), I expect them to put the pedal to the metal here and show why they’re NFC North champs. Take the Pack at -12.

Indianapolis Colts (-6) at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, 1:00 p.m. EST

The Chiefs have been through a horrible season this year, both on and off the field. It’s hard not to feel sympathy for this flagging franchise; they lost 15-0 to the Oakland Raiders this weekend. At this point, they can just look forward to the end of the season. While they are trending downward, however, the Colts are rising. Take the Colts at -6.

New England Patriots (-14) at Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, 1:00 p.m. EST

Is there a worse team in football this season than the Jacksonville Jaguars? You could make a case for the Chiefs or Raiders, but after the Jags’ dismal 24-3 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday, they have to be considered near the top of that shameful list. How inept have the Jags been, and for how long? Chad Henne posted a 4.6 QBR on Sunday, the fifth sub-5.0 QBR for a starting Jacksonville quarterback since 2011, the most in the NFL in that span. In short, Jacksonville is dreadful.

The Patriots, despite losing a close game to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, are deservedly two touchdown favorites in this one. It would be shocking if they won by less than three. Take the Pats at -14.

Minnesota Vikings (+10) at Houston Texans, Sunday, 1:00 p.m. EST

Houston proved a lot on Sunday with their win over the Colts, not to mention locking up the AFC South in the process. “A lot of people were wondering how we were going to respond,” Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson said. “I think a lot of people doubted us after what happened last week. We (felt) like we had to show people what we were really about.”

Running back Arian Foster echoed the same sentiments, emphasizing that the Texans’ catastrophic loss to the Patriots last weekend was not the “real” Texans. “It’s not really that we bounced back,” Foster said. “It’s that we played the football that we know we’re capable of playing. We feel we’re a team that if we play how we know we can … it’s going to be hard for us to get beat.”

The Vikings, meanwhile won a field-goal-heavy contest with the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, based in large part on another 200-yard rushing performance from Adrian Peterson, the fourth of his career and the second in as many weeks. He is truly on another planet right now, and could make life extremely difficult for the Texans. I think the Vikings lose a close one here. Take them and the points.