AFC south news

AFC South Race

The AFC South is one of the eight different divisions in the NFL. The Jaguars, Colts, Texans and Titans are all in the AFC South. A lot of times, the AFC South is usually not known as the top division, but this year, it is different. 

Jacksonville, with a record of 9-4, took the number one spot last weekend after a win against the Colts. Jacksonville has a one-game lead and is on a four-game winning streak and is hungry for more.

The Texans are sitting in the number 2 spot, also at 8-5, and hold the tiebreaker over the Colts, having won their last five games.

 The Colts are also at the number three spot, with an 8-5 record, but are on a three-game losing streak, and their starting QB has just torn his Achilles. Not looking good for them.

Finally, in dead last, already eliminated from the playoffs, are the Titans, at 2-11, tied with the Raiders for the worst record in the NFL. 

Not counting the Titans, the division is stacked, and teams are racing for the number-one spot. Just less than a month ago, the Colts were comfortably in the Number one spot, at 8-2. While the Jaguars were at number two with a 5-4 record, the Texans were at Number three with a 4-5 record. The Colts had a three-game lead in the division. Now, they are in third place, behind Jacksonville and the Texans. 

Jacksonville could start losing, and the Texans could take over. The same thing could happen for the Colts. There are 4 games left in the season.  The season is far from over, but the odds aren't on the Colts' side. Jacksonville has played the Colts in two out of the last five games, with one of those games being last week. Jacksonville comfortably defeated the Colts 19-36 to claim the number one spot. These games will decide the division. Jacksonville hasn't won the division in three years, and the Texans have won the last two times. Something to note is that the Colts haven't won in Jacksonville Stadium since 2014, and they play each other every year.

The Jaguars and Colts both made big trade deadline moves. Jacksonville traded for star WR Jakobi Meyers, and he has been a huge addition. He only cost a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick. He has already made a big impact in five games. In the five games he has played, he has totalled 22 receptions, 284 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. Before he got traded, he was with the Raiders and had 0 touchdowns in seven games, and now already has three touchdowns in five games. 

Sauce Gardner, on the other hand, hasn't done much as a Colt. He cost two first-round picks and WR Adoni Mitchell, who has done more as a New York Jet than Sauce Gardner is doing as a Colt. He had a good game against the Chiefs and then got hurt quickly in the first quarter against the Texans. He only lasted three games before getting hurt. He didn't play against the Jaguars and is doubtful to play next week against the Colts. 

Star QB Daniel Jones, on the Colts, fractured his fibula two weeks ago and still played through it for one week. He started against the Jaguars, but nearing the end of the first quarter, the Jaguars were up 14-7, and Daniel Jones tore his Achilles. The Jaguars went on to win 19-36. On Tuesday night, the Colts made a bold move. The Colts signed QB Philip Rivers, who is 44 years old and hasn't played in five years (he retired in 2020). He is an actual grandpa! He has 10 kids, and his oldest just had a baby. It’s a very rare occurrence for a grandpa to play in the NFL. Especially when he has to go on the road against one of the best defenses in the league after only a couple of days of practice. 

Jacksonville and the Texans are lined up to have a win this week, as Jacksonville plays the Jets as big favorites and the Texans host the Cardinals also as big favorites. Meanwhile, the Colts are in for a rough battle, going into Seattle to take on one of the best defenses in the league. Whether it's the rookie Riley Leonard starting or it's 44-year-old grandpa Philip Rivers starting, the Colts are massive underdogs. It would be wild if they do start Rivers; he might literally get hurt after the first play. The Colts are desperate because it's a tight division race. 

Weeks ago, we thought the Colts were winning the division and might have clinched it by Thanksgiving! Now, it's week 15, and the Jaguars and Texans are racing for the division, while the Colts are falling apart. And the Titans… well, they are just waiting for the season to end and the draft to start.

written by Bryson Ferko

Edited by Bryson Ferko