The AFC South is likely going to be the worst division in football. I'd put most of the blame on the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans. I don't believe the Colts are a well managed organization as well, but it's hard to argue with the success of any team who has won a Super Bowl in the past decade. Sometimes it even seems as if all the talent in Houston in wasted, but they finally found the playoffs in 2011. Interestingly enough, my predictions included a winner from the AFC South with an 8-8 record. Maybe I was a little tough on the division as a whole, but we will see.
Houston Texans (8-8)
The Texans lost their star #1 overall pick in Mario Williams simply because they could not give Mario a contract that he deserved. They replaced Williams in the first round of the 2012 draft with Whitney Mercilus, who has extremely large shoes to fill. The Texans have some pretty tough games on their schedule this year that includes the Ravens, Packers, Lions, and Bears. Houston has an outstanding rush attack with Arian Foster, and a promising passing game that they have used to dominate teams year to year. However, they tend to have trouble beating some of the teams with worse records from time to time. 2012 will be a true test for them as their core players begin nearing the end (or reaching) their prime.
Wins: vs. Dolphins, @ Jaguars, vs. Titans, @ Jets, vs. Bills, @ Titans, vs. Colts, vs. Vikings
Losses: @ Broncos, vs. Packers, vs. Ravens, @ Bears, vs. Jaguars, @ Lions, @ Patriots, @ Colts
Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
This comes as a surprise to not only the readers, but to myself. I surely did not mean to give the Colts so many wins just one year after the departure of Peyton Manning. The Colts are definitely in a rebuilding process and it may take a couple years before they truly contend. However, Andrew Luck is an outstanding rookie, and outstanding rookies sometimes have outstanding years (Sam Bradford, Cam Newton). The Colts will surprise some pretty good teams this year, and lose to some pretty bad teams. At least it is better than last year.
Wins: vs. Jaguars, @ Titans, vs. Dolphins, @ Jaguars, vs. Bills, @ Chiefs, vs. Texans
Losses: @ Bears, vs. Vikings, vs. Packers, @ Jets, vs. Browns, @ Patriots, @ Lions, vs. Titans, @ Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13)
The Jaguars can consider themselves worthy of a top pick in next season's draft, despite the addition of star wide receiver Justin Blackmon. This looks pretty similar to the Lions' situation a few years back, when they drafted Calvin Johnson before they drafted Matthew Stafford the season afterwards. Blaine Gabbert may succeed somewhere in the NFL, but somewhere is not Jacksonville. The Jaguars need to devote this year to scouting Matt Barkley and Landry Jones and whomever may be in contention to be picked first in next year's draft. Jacksonville needs to do something before guys like Maurice Jones-Drew begin to want to leave. The Jaguars haven't been a well-run organization in years past, so it's time for a turn-around.
Wins: @ Raiders, @ Texans, vs. Titans
Losses: @ Vikings, vs. Texans, @ Colts, vs. Bengals, vs. Bears, @ Packers, vs. Lions, vs. Colts, @ Bills, vs. Jets, @ Dolphins, vs. Patriots, @ Titans
Tennessee Titans (4-12)
Let's get this straight: The Titans have a lot of missing pieces in the puzzle. Also, Chris Johnson is going to continue to see his production drop. Jake Locker may be the only glowing piece in the organization. The Titans seem like an organization that took the wrong turn somewhere. There's Munchak in there coaching, which is a good thing. But is Munchak for real? I see a team built to so some okay things in the future, but not a team looking to build for a championship. Let's see some heart out there, instead of just a squad. Let's see a football team out there on Sundays, with some passion. Somewhere, something is missing in Tennessee.
Wins: @ Chargers, @ Vikings, @ Colts, vs. Jaguars
Losses: vs. Patriots, vs. Lions, @ Texans, vs. Steelers, @ Bills, vs. Colts, vs. Bears, @ Dolphins, @ Jaguars, vs. Texans, vs. Jets, @ Packers
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