State of the AFC South: Week 4

Through three weeks, no one has any idea what to think of the AFC South. The Titans lead the division despite having their quarterback, top three offensive tackles, and biggest offensive weapon dealing with injuries. The Jaguars beat the Patriots handily in Week 2, but then fell to Tennessee last week 9-6. The Colts have been inconsistent, but almost beat the defending champs in Philadelphia last week. Then the Texans who were a popular pick to win the division are 0-3. The Colts and Texans will face off in a big division matchup where both teams may be fighting to stay in the race for the division early in the season.

Current Standings

Tennessee Titans 2-1, 2-0 in division

2. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-1, 0-1 in division

3. Indianapolis Colts 1-2, 0-0 in division

4. Houston Texans 0-3, 0-1 in division

New York Jets at Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars offense looked horrendous against the Titans on Sunday. Blake Bortles missed wide open receivers, Keelan Cole was dropping passes, and they never found a way to get into the end zone. They will need to bounce back against New York this week. The Jets are 1-2 and just gave the Browns their first win in almost two years last Thursday. Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold has looked inconsistent and it is unlikely he will have a great day against the Jaguars defense.

Jacksonville gets their third straight home game and they’ll end the stretch 2-1. Bortles will need to be better and get the Jags into the end zone this week and help out his defense. It will be low scoring, but the Jaguars get a win ahead of their clash with the Chiefs in Kansas City next week.

Prediction: Jaguars 20 Jets 10

Philadelphia Eagles at Tennessee Titans

The Titans are coming off of a hard-fought, ugly win in Jacksonville. They get to come home and face the defending champs who now have their quarterback Carson Wentz back on the field. Tennessee has been very good on their own field, winning 11 of their last 13 at Nissan Stadium and should be much healthier on Sunday. A win would be huge for their AFC South hopes.

However, this is just a bad matchup for the Titans. Marcus Mariota will most likely not be fully healthy and the team will likely have to rely on the run game once again. The Eagles front seven is very good and the Titans will likely have to go to the passing game to win. Mariota can’t push the ball down the field on the relatively thin Eagles secondary yet, and the team won’t be able to score more points than Carson Wentz’s Eagles.

Prediction: Eagles 31 Titans 17

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts

Will the Texans fall to 0-4 on Sunday? The team has lost to the Patriots, Titans, and Giants thus far and now has to face Indy on the road. Deshaun Watson has looked like a shell of his former self in those six games he played last year. He will need to step up against a weak Colts secondary if the Texans want to avoid getting swept in the first quarter of the season.

I don’t think it happens. At home, the Colts will be able to sneak out a win with Andrew Luck at the helm. The Texans have just been outplayed and outcoached in every game and until I see them put a good game together, I can’t predict them getting a win.

Prediction: Colts 27 Texans 24