The AFC South has three playoff-caliber teams.
The Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, and Jacksonville Jaguars can make the playoffs.
The Tennessee Titans’ season depends on Will Levis and if he can take a big step forward.
If Levis can play well this season, the Titans can also challenge for a playoff spot.
Last season, the Texans won the AFC South but lost in the divisional round against the Baltimore Ravens.
Jacksonville finished second in the AFC South with a 9-8 record.
They did not make the postseason.
The Colts were also 9-8 and did not make the playoffs last year.
Anthony Richardson played in just four games in his rookie year last season for Indy.
Tennessee finished last in the division last season with a 6-11 record.
Below, we will break down each team in the AFC South and predict which team will win the division.
AFC South Breakdown The AFC South has three teams that can make the playoffs and one team that will depend on the progress of their young QB.
Divisional matchups in the AFC South will be competitive.
Scroll down for a breakdown of each AFC South team heading into the 2024 NFL season.
Houston Texans The Houston Texans won the AFC South last year.
They were led by QB CJ Stroud, who had arguably the best rookie season by a QB in history.
In 15 games last year, Stroud had 23 passing TDs, six interceptions, 4,108 passing yards, and a 100.8 QB rating.
Houston acquired WR Stefon Diggs to give Stroud another receiving weapon.
They also brought in RB Joe Mixon to help the ground attack.
Houston’s defense improved significantly last year, thanks to head coach Demeco Ryans and rookie pass rusher Will Anderson Jr.
The Texans ranked 13th in points per game and 11th in points allowed per game last year.
It would not be surprising to see Houston rank in the top 10 in both categories in 2024.
Houston has a good offensive line to protect Stroud.
Stroud will be an MVP candidate in 2024.
This offense will be difficult to stop while their defense can make plays.
The Texans are a dangerous team in 2024 and will look to repeat as AFC South champions.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars midway through last season looked like they would win the AFC South.
After week 12, the Jags were sitting at 8-3 and seemed poised to win the division.
However, weeks 13-18 were not kind to Jacksonville.
They lost five of their last six games to end the year, finished the season with a 9-8 record, and missed the playoffs entirely.
Jacksonville and Lawrence agreed to a five-year, $275 million contract extension, with $200 million guaranteed this offseason.
Interceptions started to pile up for Lawrence at the end of the season last year.
He threw two or more interceptions in three of his final four games in 2023.
Despite the massive new contract, Lawrence has not lived up to the hype.
He was the first overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Lawrence has been solid but the Jags were expecting him to be a top-five QB in the league and he has not been yet.
With a big new contract, there is even more pressure on Lawrence to step it up.
Jacksonville missed the playoffs last year after losing five of their final six games but they were sitting at 8-3 when December began.
They will look to make it back in the postseason and challenge for the AFC South crown this upcoming season.
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts finished with a 9-8 record and third in the AFC South last year.
They drafted QB Anthony Richardson fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
He only started four games before a shoulder injury ended his season.
In those four games, Richardson flashed signs of why the Colts took him fourth overall.
He is an elite athlete and had four rushing TDs in four games.
Richardson’s biggest question is whether his style of play will allow him to stay healthy.
There is no doubt about his abilities and he can be a lethal weapon for the Colts.
He is behind a good offensive line, has one of the top running backs in the league in Jonathan Taylor, and has a solid WR in Michael Pittman.
Indy has a good defensive line as well.
The Colts have a good all-around team and if Richardson can stay healthy, they can be a dangerous team.
Look for Indy to compete for a playoff spot and the AFC South crown.
Tennessee Titans Tennessee finished last in the AFC South last season with a 6-11 record.
Will Levis took over the starting role under center in week eight.
He was not overly impressive and will need to take a huge step forward this season for the Titans to have a shot at competing in the AFC.
They brought in two WRs, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd to pair with DeAndre Hopkins to help Levis.
Star RB Derrick Henry is no longer with the team.
RB duties will be split between Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears.
The Titans ranked 27th in points per game last year.
Their defense ranked 15th in points allowed per game last season.
Tennessee is the fourth-best team in the AFC South and their season will highly depend on Will Levis and if he can improve significantly.
Which Team Will Win The AFC South? The Titans have a lot of question marks, mainly at the most important position in football.
Will Levis needs to improve.
The Colts have a good all-around team but Anthony Richardson needs to prove he can play at a high level and stay healthy all season.
Jacksonville will expect Trevor Lawrence to step it up even more as he has been good but not good enough.
His expectations were very high when he was drafted and he has not lived up to the hype yet.
This leaves the Houston Texans, which have CJ Stroud, a very good offense, and a much-improved defense.
Demeco Ryans is an excellent head coach.
Houston is set up to win now with Stroud on his rookie deal.
Stroud will be even better in his second year and he has more weapons at his disposal.
The Houston Texans will repeat as AFC South champions.
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