It seems preposterous, right? NFL fans and pundits alike seem to largely agree that the AFC South is the worst division in the entire league. The Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans are all jumbled up at 3-3. Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts sit just one game out at 2-4. The division was bad last year, and that’s what has ultimately led to the current perception of the division. But, I say it’s turning a corner.
In terms of rushing yards per game, three of the top five reside in the AFC South. Did anyone else realize that? You can’t boil success down to one thing, but we all know that running the ball can be a key ingredient in a deep playoff run. The Jaguars average 165.8 rushing yards per game, while the Texans are right behind them with 137.7, and the Titans round out the top five with 132 (the Colts sit at #20). Leonard Fournette and Lamar Miller are both among the NFL’s top 10 rushers, and DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry are both in the top 20.
All three of these teams are also in the top 10 in total points on the season. The Texans, at #3 overall, have scored 177 points behind Deshaun Watson’s electric performance at quarterback. The Jaguars have posted 156 points, which is good for 7th. Finally, the Titans sit at #10 with 146 points scored. Folks, these are surprisingly good offenses, don’t you think?
Defense is where the Jaguars have the edge. Despite loads of talent, the Texans and Titans defenses are middle-of-the-road in terms of yardage allowed. When you look at points allowed per game, the Titans are actually the 31st ranked team. Gross. But, the Jaguars secondary featuring Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye could be the best defensive backfield in the entire NFL. Factor in Calais Campbell, and that unit is impactful. If the Jags could find more stable consistency, they’d be the best defense in football. But, this argument is more than just stats – let’s look at opportunity, too.
The Miami Dolphins currently hold the second AFC South wild card, but you have to scroll all the way down to the 16th place Cleveland Browns to find a team that is more than one game out. There’s a lot of football left to play, but at this point, we’re deep enough into the season for teams to begin separating themselves. And, no one’s doing it yet. Even the mighty Kansas City Chiefs have now dropped two in a row. The AFC, a lot like last year, is wide open.
So, when you look at the eye test of these four teams, comparative to the rest of the AFC wild card race, it doesn’t seem that ludicrous to think two of these AFC South teams could sneak up and grab a playoff spot.
The Texans look like the most complete, explosive team in the division right now. But, with a healthy Marcus Mariota, I don’t think the Titans are too far behind. If the Jaguars can play defense all season like they did in London, they’ll be in the hunt, too. These are three….actually…..pretty decent football teams. Who’d a thunk it?
Right now, the AFC East has THREE teams in the playoffs right now (New England, Buffalo, and Miami). The Bills look like a playoff team, but folks, there are 10 teams fighting for that second spot right now. So, why couldn’t it be another AFC South team?
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. A strong advocate of GSD (get shit done) and #BeBetter, he’s down to talk Tennessee Titans and Alabama Crimson Tide football over a beer any day. Check him out covering the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @WrestlingNewsCo
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