2014 NFL Season Previews: AFC South

The AFC South is a conference that could be up for grabs if one team decides to make a turnaround. Every year in the NFL there is usually a team that goes from first to worst and the AFC South may be the weakest division in the NFL. Yet none of the teams really addressed their needs enough for that to happen. So let's get into predictions.

1. Indianapolis Colts

2013: 11-5. 1st in the AFC South. Lost in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Key Losses: Antoine Bethea, Donald Brown, Kavell Conner, Jeff Likenbach, Darius Heyward-Bey, Cassius Vaughn, Pat Angerer

Key Additions: David Sims, Arthur Jones, Hakeem Nicks, Colt Anderson, Mike Adams, Brandon McKinney, Philip Hunt.

Toughest Match-ups: Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers

2014:

Like I said this division should be up for grabs but it isn't. The Colts are probably the weakest division winner in the league but they are loads better than the other teams in the AFC South. The Colts are extremely flawed on the offensive line and in the defensive secondary. They also don't have a proven running game with Donald Brown leaving and Trent Richardson not playing well last year. What the Colts do have is a proven commodity at quarterback. Andrew Luck is leaps and bounds ahead of the second best quarterback in the division. Who is even the second best quarterback in the division? Ryan Fitzpatrick? Woah. Jake Locker maybe? Yeah this division is not spilling over with great quarterback play. I have had my reservations about Andrew Luck because people usually tend to think of Luck in terms of potential and not from what he's done in a severely weak conference. They also tend to ignore the amount of mistakes he makes. But still the guy is an extremely talented quarteback and what he is right now is more than enough to make the Colts the Class of the division. The Colts will probably win 10 or 11 games this year.

2. Tennessee Titans

2013: 7-9, 2nd in the AFC South. Did not make playoffs.

Key Losses:Chris Johnson, Adewale Ojomo, Ryan Fitzpatrick,

Key Additions: Bernard Pollard, Dexter McCluster, Zach Mettenberger, Bishop Sankey, Charlie Whitehurst.

Toughest Match-ups:Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals ,Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts (twice).

2014:

The Titans started out last year a lot better than most people expected. Jake Locker was actually playing well and the defense was flying all over the place. Once Locker was hurt the season tanked soon after. Locker still has a lot to prove, first of which being whether he can stay healthy for a full season. I think this year Locker does show that he at least can be the quarterback for the Titans future. The Titans have the weapons with emerging wide receivers Kendall Wright (who quietly caught 94 passes last year), Justin Hunter and tight end Delanie Walker. But the problems come in the running game with Chris Johnson's departure. Bishop Sankey seemed like a promising prospect coming in to the season but underwhelmed in the preseason and finds himself behind in the depth chart. Shonn Greene has proven to be nothing more than a goal line guy with minimal talent. While I like Dexter McCluster, he will probably play the Danny Woodhead role in Ken Wisenhunt's offense. The Titans play good enough defense to stay in games but their offense will probably stall more often than not without the run game for them to win the division. I see them going 8-8.

3. Houston Texans 

2013: 2-11, last in the AFC South. Did not make the playoffs.

Key Losses: Matt Schaub, Ben Tate, Lester Jean, Owen Daniels,

Key Additions: Tom Savage, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett, Jadeveon Clowney, Louis Nix, and Darryl Morris.

Toughest Match-ups: Washington, Indianapolis Colts (twice), Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens.

2014:

The Texans were terrible last season. But it was mainly because Matt Schaub's arm went from a serviceable weak arm of a game manager to a wet noodle. The Texans essentially had the same team from the year before that made it to the playoffs but the difference was Schaubs play. He threw a bunch of pick sixes and Case Keenum didn't do much differently once he came in. Both those guys are gone so it does mean that there is room for the Texans to improve. The problem is that it doesn't seem like the answer is Ryan Fitzpatrick or Ryan Mallet. The Texans obviously have the tools to be a great team with J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney but will stumble on offense too much to make it back to the top of the division. I see them going 6-10.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

2013: 4-12. 3^rd in the AFC South. Did not make the playoffs.

Key Losses: Justin forsett, Maurice Jones Drew, Russell Allen, Will Rackley, Jason Babin

Key Additions: Red Bryant, Zane Beadles, Toby Gerhart, Dekoda Watson, Chris Clemons, Ziggy Hood, drafted Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson.

Toughest Matchups: Philadelphia Eagles, Washington, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens.

2014:

The Jaguars might actually be better this year but not by much. Toby Gerhart might do decent in the run game but he is not a difference maker. Even Maurice Jones Drew couldn’t change the teams fortunes around. They lost Justin Blackmon to a suspension and have Chad Henne as their starting quarterback. Henne isn’t very good and rookie quarterback Blake Bortles looked pretty good in the preseason but it means little for this season. The Jags won’t be much better this year in fact they will be slightly better and go 5-11.