Thank God for the AFC South. It’s going to be an exciting division. What with Drew Brees and Matt Ryan squaring off and a solid Carolina Panthers defense. Wait, that’s the NFC South. The AFC South has Andrew Luck and … well, it has Andrew Luck!
Indianapolis Colts
Coach: Chuck Pagano
The Colts are poised for a really big year. They proved so with their comeback against the Chiefs in last year’s first-round playoff game. It’s Andrew Luck’s third season, and it looks like there is no stopping the young guy.
The only problem is, outside of the 35-year-old Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton, Luck is surrounded by less-than-stellar talent. Dwayne Allen is back after a season filled with injury, and Luck’s former Stanford teammate Coby Fleener will produce as well. Hakeem Nicks might help, but he just adds another question mark. That offensive line? Yeesh. The jury is still out on Trent Richardson, but if he plays anything like last year the team is in trouble. Luckily (pun intended) as uninspiring as the supporting cast is, the rest of the AFC South is garbage, so the Colts just need to be average to be great.
The defense is another story altogether. Outside of Vontae Davis and Robert Mathis, who will serve a four-game suspension, the team lacks any star power. Signing D’Qwell Jackson and Arthur Jones might help, but the secondary is in shambles. Again, see note about the rest of this division being garbage for how this will play out.
Notable Losses: S Antoine Bethea, RB Donald Brown, C Samson Satele
Notable Additions: WR Hakeem Nicks, DE Arthur Jones, S Mike Adams
Notable Draft Picks: G Jack Meowhart, WR Donte Moncrief, LB Andrew Jackson
2013 Record: 11-5, AFC North Champion
AFC North Record: 6-0
Best Case Scenario: 13-3, AFC Champion
Like Dr. Ian Malcolm said, sometimes life finds a way. That way is Andrew Luck. This team could really be special and go all the way to the Super Bowl if the young quarterback keeps developing.
Worst Case Scenario: 9-7, AFC North Champion
There’s no way this team doesn’t make the playoffs in what might be the worst division in football. They went 6-0 in division play last year, and there’s a very strong chance they repeat. Add in very winnable games against the Redskins, Browns, Giants and Cowboys and there’s just no way this team doesn’t repeat as division champs.
2014 Schedule:
@ Broncos
vs. Eagles
@ Jaguars
vs. Titans
vs. Ravens
@ Texans
vs. Bengals
@ Steelers
@ Giants
Bye
vs. Patriots
vs. Jaguars
vs. Redskins
@ Browns
vs. Texans
@ Cowboys
@ Titans
Houston Texans
Coach: Bill O’Brien
Despite going 2-14 and having the first overall pick, the Texans aren’t THAT bad of a team. They did lose some close games last year and self-destructed as a result. New coach Bill O’Brien should help this team rebound.
The offense is sort of the inverse of the Colts: solid position players, garbage quarterbacks. Seriously, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Case Keenum? Just awful. Expect Arian Foster to have a big year as a result of not being able to rely on the pass at all. But the team will be able to pass a little seeing as how DeAndre Hopkins is solid and Andre Johnson is like a black hole who sucks footballs thrown his way into his gravitational pull. Throw in a pretty good offensive line and this team will be just all right.
The defense is the one thing Andrew Luck needs to be afraid of. All eyes will be on Jadeveon Clowney, who many coaches said could play in the NFL coming out of high school. JJ Watt is probably the best defensive end in the league. Jared Crick, Jonathon Joseph, Kareem Jackson and roided out Brian Cushing are none too shabby either.
2013 Record: 2-14, Last in NFL
AFC North Record: 1-5
Notable Losses: TE Owen Daniels, QB Matt Schaub, S Danieal Manning
Notable Additions: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, S Kendrick Lewis, RB Andre Brown
Notable Draft Picks: DE/OLB Jadeveon Clowney, G Xavier Su’a-Filo, TE C.J. Fiedorowicz
Best Case Scenario: 9-7, AFC Wild Card
That’s right, a bounce back from worst in the NFL to playoff team. This team isn’t going to overtake the Colts until they get some decent QB play, but they’ll be right on their tail with a defense ready to devour Andrew Luck.
Worst: 4-12
Then again it could all implode. Relying on Fitzpatrick and Keenum is a bold move (and probably won’t work). As unlikely as it is, Clowney could bust. Maybe Johnson is getting old. Maybe Foster won’t have room to run with such terrible QB play. That’s a lot of maybes, but doesn’t mean it can’t happen.
2014 Schedule:
vs. Redskins
@ Raiders
@ Giants
vs. Bills
@ Cowboys
vs. Colts
@ Steelers
@ Titans
vs. Eagles
Bye
@ Browns
vs. Bengals
vs. Titans
@ Jaguars
@ Colts
vs. Ravens
vs. Jaguars
Tennessee Titans
Coach: Ken Wisenhunt
New coach, new year, likely same results. The Titans canned Mike Munchak in favor of Ken Wisenhunt during the offseason. They also canned CJ-Remember that time I had 2k? and got rid of Kenny Britt. Will this all help? Probably not.
Jake Locker is a solid QB who has some real talent. Unfortunately, he is also made of porcelain and in unlikely to remain upright the entire season. Getting rid of Johnson and Britt will help, but how much it will help remains to be seen. Shonn Greene is a sort of enigma. Is he good? Is he bad? The world may never know (he’s probably bad). Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter will be able to do what Kenny Britt couldn’t.
A switch in scheme will hinder the Titans this year. They’re switching to a 3-4 and don’t have a lot of the personnel. They’ll lack a pass rusher outside of Shaun Phillips. Kamerion Wimbley might provide some spark, and Zach Brown should be a decent inside linebacker, but that’s really it. The secondary is going to rely on S Bernard Pollard after losing CB Alterraun Verner. Unfortunately the Titans don’t face the Patriots this year. Leon Washington and Dexter McCluster will be good on special teams, but that’s about as far as the upside goes.
2013 Record: 7-9, 2nd in AFC North
AFC North Record: 2-4
Notable Losses: RB Chris Johnson, WR Kenny Britt, CB Alterraun Verner
Notable Additions: WR/KR Dexter McCluster, OLB Shaun Phillips, OT Michael Oher
Notable Draft Picks: OT Taylor Lewan, RB Bishop Sankey, QB Zach Mettenberger
Best Case Scenario: 8-8
This is a .500 team at best. Too many pieces that don’t fit, a QB made of glass and a new scheme. Not the makings of a good season.
Worst: 4-12
While it is unlikely that the team implodes to the point of being this bad, if (when) Locker goes down, they’ll have to rely on Charlie Whitehurst. We’ve all seen that play out before. Games against the Browns, Jets and Jaguars will keep them from being the Browns, Jets or Jaguars.
2014 Schedule:
@ Chiefs
vs. Cowboys
@ Bengals
@ Colts
vs. Browns
vs. Jaguars
@ Redskins
vs. Texans
Bye
@ Ravens
vs. Steelers
@ Eagles
@ Texans
vs. Giants
vs. Jets
@ Jaguars
vs. Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Coach: Gus Bradley
I want to personally apologize to the country of England on behalf of the NFL and the United States for sending the Jaguars over to Wembley Stadium to play the Cowboys. Seriously, our bad. If you want to close the border to Americans until next season, we’ll understand.
Despite Blake Bortles playing well in the preseason, Chad Henne is the starter. Cecil Shorts III, Marquise Lee and Marcedes Lewis are the main targets since Justin Blackmon loves weed as much as Josh Gordon. Have fun with that. Toby Gerhart will look to take the full time load from Maurice Jones-Drew. Luke Joeckel will look to play a full season. There are only so many ways I can say this team sucks.
The defense isn’t any better. Red Bryant will be good against the run and Chris Clemons should help the pass rush. Alan Ball played well, but he’s a journeyman at best. Paul Posluszny has some promise, but continues to struggle year after year. Again, there are only so many ways I can say this team sucks.
2013 Record: 4-12, 3rd in AFC East
AFC East Record: 3-3
Notable Losses: RB Maurice Jones-Drew, DE Jason Babin, QB Blaine Gabbert
Notable Additions: RB Toby Gerhart, DE Red Bryant, DE Chris Clemons
Notable Draft Picks: QB Blake Bortles, WR Marquise Lee, G Brandon Linder
Best Case Scenario: 6-10
This team is incredibly awful. Again, full apologies to England for sending them over there. It has to be a ploy to move the team there (again, sorry).
Worst: 1-15
They have to win at least one game, right?
2014 Schedule:
@ Eagles
@ Redskins
vs. Colts
@ Chargers
vs. Steelers
@ Titans
vs. Browns
vs. Dolphins
@ Bengals
vs. Cowboys
Bye
@ Colts
vs. Giants
vs. Texans
@ Ravens
vs. Titans
@ Texans