The NFL is back, and Sportsnet is breaking down everything you need to know about each of the 32 teams in the lead-up to kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 9.
Today, we look at the AFC South. (Teams are listed in the order in which we believe they’ll finish in the 2021 standings.)
TENNESSEE TITANS
2020 record: 11-5, won the division; lost to Ravens 20-13 in wild-card round.
Roster additions: WR Julio Jones, LB Bud Dupree, CB Janoris Jenkins, OT Kendall Lamm, DE Denico Autry, CB Kevin Johnson, WR Josh Reynolds, CB Caleb Farley (drafted 22nd overall), LB Monty Rice (92nd), CB Elijah Molden (100th)
Roster subtractions: WR Corey Davis, LB Jadeveon Clowney, CB Malcolm Butler, TE Jonnu Smith, CB Adoree Jackson WR Adam Humphries, S Kenny Vaccaro, OT Dennis Kelly, K Stephen Gostkowski
The good news: A three-headed-monster is now a four-headed-monster. The Titans boast plenty of potent offensive weapons led by the trio of Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry and A.J. Brown. Adding Julio Jones only makes them more dangerous. The energetic Mike Vrabel returns as head coach, so there’s a built-in advantage on the continuity front. When you consider that the Colts are dealing with injuries to key starters and both the Jaguars and Texans enter the year with low expectations, it’s no surprise the Titans are the odds-on favourite to win the division. This team is built to score, but are they built for a deep playoff run?
The bad news: A fair amount of off-season turnover, plus question marks on the o-line, is worrisome. With Arthur Smith now the head coach in Atlanta it’ll be interesting to see how different the play-calling is under new OC Todd Downing. Bigger concerns loom on the other side of the ball with a dearth of top-tier talent outside of Kevin Byard. The Titans were among the worst teams in the league in 2020 when it came to overall and third-down defence and the additions they’ve made aren’t overly inspiring.
2021 prediction: 10-7, will battle for division title and wild-card spot
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
2020 record: 11-5, second in division, lost to Bills 27-24 in wild-card round.
Roster additions: QB Carson Wentz, OT Eric Fisher, DE Kwity Paye (drafted 21st overall), OT Julie'n Davenport, DT Isaac Rochell, DT Dayo Odeyingbo (54th), TE Kylen Granson (127th), QB Sam Ehlinger (218th)
Roster subtractions: QB Philip Rivers, OT Anthony Castonzo, DE Justin Houston, S Malik Hooker, QB Jacoby Brissett, TE Trey Burton, DT Denico Autry
The good news: This team should be a threat to win the division when at full health. Getting reunited with Frank Reich and playing behind one of the top offensive lines in football should allow new starting QB Carson Wentz to find his footing and regain confidence after a disastrous final season with the Eagles. Indy is the deepest and most well-rounded team in the AFC South. The defence is strong at all three levels with rookie Kwity Paye impressing in the pre-season. If the team can tread water until they start getting healthy bodies back, the Colts could make some noise in the AFC.
The bad news: Untimely foot injuries to Wentz and standout guard Quenton Nelson headline a lengthy injury list that could leave the team severely shorthanded early on. The Colts begin their season at home facing the NFC West’s Seahawks and Rams before three straight road contests against AFC rivals Titans, Dolphins and Ravens. The schedule eases up slightly after that but if injuries mount and they’re 1-4 or worse then it’ll be a daunting uphill climb. This offence has a drastically lower ceiling without Wentz and Nelson on the field.
2021 prediction: 10-7, will battle for division title and wild-card spot
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
2020 record: 1-15, missed playoffs after worst season in franchise history.
Roster additions: QB Trevor Lawrence (drafted first overall), RB Travis Etienne (30th), CB Tyson Campbell (33rd), WR Marvin Jones, QB C.J. Beathard, RB Carlos Hyde, WR Tavon Austin, DT Malcom Brown, DT Roy Robertson-Harris, CB Shaq Griffin, S Rayshawn Jenkins, S Rudy Ford, head coach Urban Meyer
Roster subtractions: QB Gardner Minshew, WR Dede Westbrook, WR Keelan Cole, CB D.J. Hayden, CB Sidney Jones, DT Abry Jones, TE Tyler Eifert
The good news: There’s no pressure on former Clemson star Trevor Lawrence to turn this franchise around in his rookie season. The 2021 campaign can be about the elite QB prospect getting comfortable in a Darrell Bevell-led offence. Bevell wasn’t afraid to draw up plays that allowed Matt Stafford to air it out when the pair were in Detroit together and Lawrence represents an ideal new toy for an offensive coaching staff to play with. Losing Etienne and his proven chemistry with Lawrence to a foot injury before the season even begins is a real bummer, yet despite that, this offence still has a fair amount of young talent.
Jags fans are hoping the way Lawrence closed out the pre-season is a sign of things to come.
The bad news: Outside of an anomalous trip to the AFC Championship in 2017, this fan base has been subjected to sub-.500 drudgery year after year. While there’s really nowhere to go but up after nearly going winless in 2020, this team doesn’t appear to have the pieces necessary to finish above .500 or stay in the playoff hunt late into the season. Urban Meyer hadn’t coached in more than two years prior to being hired by the Jaguars in January and he’s coming over from the college side. He won national titles with Florida (2006, 2008) and Ohio State (2014) but there’s no guarantee that success will translate to wins at the NFL level.
2021 prediction: 6-11, no playoffs but clear signs of progress
HOUSTON TEXANS
2020 record: 4-12, missed playoffs
Roster additions: QB Tyrod Taylor, RB Mark Ingram, RB Phillip Lindsay, RB Rex Burkhead, WR Anthony Miller, WR Chris Conley, OT Marcus Cannon, DT Maliek Collins, LB Jordan Jenkins, LB Christian Kirksey, C Justin Britt, DT DeMarcus Walker, S Desmond King, head coach David Culley
Roster subtractions: DT J.J. Watt, WR Will Fuller, RB Duke Johnson, G Zach Fulton, C Nick Martin, WR Randall Cobb, DT Carlos Watkins, LB Brennan Scarlett, CB Gareon Conley
The good news: It’s rather bleak on the good news front, although fans have grown accustomed to that lately. Expectations are about as low as they get entering the 2021 campaign. Tyrod Taylor has had some success as a starter in the past, although nothing significant, and the Texans have a handful of quality running backs, so it's possible they could keep some games closer than expected. Overall, new head coach David Culley has his work cut out for him in a year where the silver lining is clearly the potential first overall pick in 2022 – and possibly also a significant trade haul for their star QB.
The bad news: Even if Deshaun Watson was the confirmed Day 1 starter and he didn’t have any issues with the team and there were zero off-field allegations levied against him, the Texans would still be a contender to finish in last place. It's possible they field the league’s worst defence, and their offence isn't built to play from behind. Suffice it to say that's not a recipe for success.
2021 prediction: 2-15, at or near the bottom of the standings.
