Next on the list is the AFC South. In the AFC South, we have two legitimate contenders and two teams that will be fighting for a likely Top 5 Draft Pick when it is said and done. The AFC South has been one of the tougher divisions to win for a while, but recently things have changed. The Texans and Jags are no longer competitive in the division, but they can shake things up when they want to every now and then. The AFC South is the division that I keep watch on the most, because I am a Titans fan. I will not let my fandom get in the way of my predictions, in fact, I will probably be more brutally honest about them. With all of that said, let’s get the show on the road with the AFC South.

1: Indianapolis Colts (10-7)

I’m not completely sold on the Colts winning the division, but I think it is a good possibility that it will happen. They have improved at the QB spot with Matt Ryan taking Carson Wentz’s place, but other than that, the Colts didn’t really change a lot from last year. Yannick Ngakoue was added to the D-Line and Stephon Gilmore was added to the secondary, but other than that, they’re practically the same team. I do think they will be an improved team from last season and it appears that they will have a somewhat easy schedule. I think they will be a team that will fly under the radar for a good portion of the season. The biggest concern for the Colts is their receiving core in my opinion. Michael Pittman Jr. had a solid year last season, but other than him, they really don’t many options to go to. It looks like they will be relying upon Jonathan Taylor quite a bit and if he goes down, their whole offense will go down with him. Before I talk myself out of this prediction, I think they will barely win the division.

Difference Maker: DE, Kwity Paye

It looks like Paye may have a minor knee issue, but I think he’ll be good to go when the season starts. He is entering year 2 and he will look to make a big impact on the Colts D this season. The former 1st Rounder had 4 sacks last season and with the addition of Yannick Ngakoue, it will take some pressure off of him and it will open up more sack opportunities.

2: Tennessee Titans (10-7)

If I had to make a bet today, I would say the Titans will win the division, but history and everything else tells me they won’t. I hope they win the division, but I wouldn't count on it. Derrick Henry is a monster and if he’s healthy, he’ll likely rush for 1500 yards, however, it is concerning when your 250 lb. RB has a metal plate in his foot. I don’t think he’ll play every game and while Dontrell Hilliard is a decent backup option, he’s not Derrick Henry. The Titans got rid of AJ Brown in the offseason and added Robert Woods and Treylon Burks to the receiving core. They also added Austin Hooper after the Anthony Firkser experiment failed. The Titans defense will be underrated to start the season, but I think they will become a household name throughout the season. 2020 was a horrible defensive year for Tennessee, but it appears that they have things under control in that area. The biggest area of concern for most Titans fans is the QB spot. Is Tannehill the guy to lead us? I still think he can be. If not, they drafted a solid QB from Liberty who can be a game changer. My biggest concern is Derrick Henry’s health and the stability of the O-Line. The O-line wasn’t good last season, especially pass blocking. Tannehill can't be successful if he doesn’t have time to throw the ball. Hopefully things will be fine this season and if they can improve some of the things they struggled with last season, I think they will be a contender yet again.

Difference Maker: WR, Kyle Philips

This is definitely an under-the-radar player, but I think he could play a big part of the Titans success this season. The Titans haven’t had a good slot receiver in quite some time and everything that I’m hearing out of camp has been positive about Kyle Philips. The 5th Round pick will look to get plenty of opportunities from the slot and on special teams. It will be interesting to see how he develops as the season progresses.

3: Jacksonville Jaguars (5-12)

The Urban Meyer experiment was a short-lived disaster, but that is behind the Jacksonville Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence will look to use this fresh start to his advantage after an underwhelming rookie season. The Jaguars will welcome their other 1st Round pick in last year’s draft, Travis Etienne, to the lineup after missing the whole 2021 campaign. James Robinson will be back but is expected to have a smaller role as he is trying to mend an Achilles injury. Jacksonville’s biggest acquisition in franchise history was Christian Kirk this offseason with a 4-year, $72 million deal with the potential to earn $84 million. This move was a puzzling one and it drove the market for WR’s to astronomical amounts this offseason. They also re-signed Cam Robinson and signed Brandon Scherff to a big deal. With the new regime under Doug Pederson and the newly acquired talent, Jacksonville will look to make a splash and surprise some people, but I don’t think it will happen just yet. They’re on their way back, but it won’t be an overnight change. They will be improved in a lot of areas, but the AFC South is a tough division to try to gain ground in.

Difference Maker: CB, Darious Williams

Williams was one of those new acquisitions that the Jags had this offseason. The Jaguars have struggled to have any kind of consistency on defense since their run to the AFC Championship in 2017, especially in the secondary. Darious Williams brings a championship pedigree to the Jags and will look to improve the defense in 2022.

4: Houston Texans (3-14)

The Texans will be at the bottom of the barrel yet again. Davis Mills is their QB, Dameon Pierce will man the backfield and their receiving options are Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins, John Metchie and Chris Moore. Their defense will not be good either. Like Jacksonville, there is a new staff coaching the team and it seemed like a rushed hire at the head coaching spot. Lovie Smith just doesn’t seem like he will be a good fit, but I have been wrong in the past. They will have plenty of opportunities over the next few seasons to improve the team though, with their trade of Deshaun Watson to the Browns. The Texans ending up with the worst record this season isn't a given, but it is a bet that makes a lot of sense. Don’t expect them to be competitive whatsoever this season.

Difference Maker: CB, Derek Stingley Jr.

This year’s 3rd overall pick will be the bright spot of the Texans defense. I think he will be a great player for years to come and he will be someone that the defense will rely upon quite a bit in 2022. It’s not often that rookies are relied upon, but in this case with a team of this caliber, there is really no other option.

Yacs

AFC North

NFC North

2022 AFC South Preview