2023 AFC South Division Preview
The 2023 NFL Season is right around the corner and the Chefs are ready to start cooking. We continue our series on NFL Season Preview as we give our AFC South Division Preview. This division is potentially a two-horse race with two teams resetting their franchise with rookie QBs and we have our picks who will come out on top.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Photo Credit: USA Today
Key additions: OG Chandler Brewer, DT Michael Dogbe, OT Anton Harrison,
RB D’Ernest Johnson, K Brandon McManus, DT Henry Mondeaux, TE Josh Pederson, WR Calvin Ridley, OT Josh Wells
Key departures: TE Dan Arnold, CB Shaquill Griffin, RB Darrell Henderson, WR Willie Johnson, WR Marvin Jones Jr., DE Arden Key, TE Chris Manhertz (Broncos)
Biggest Strength
The Jaguars can put up points in bunches as last season they were top 10 in points scored. Year 2 in coach Doug Pederson's system will be nothing but a benefit for Trevor Lawrence;s development. Experts feel Lawrence is ready to take that next step to elite status and giving him more weapons should only aid that ascension. The Jags added stud receiver Calvin Ridley, who had 1,300+ yards receiving in his last full season in 2020. While he’s coming off a full year suspension, he shouldn’t take long to get back into game shape and get adjusted into this offense. Add RB Travis Etienne Jr., Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Evan Engram, and you have weapons all over the field. Protecting the QB will be the key.
Biggest Question Mark
The pass rush is going to be a major question mark this season. While the Jaguars had 35 sacks last season, they are heading into this season without DE Arden Key, they didn't address the pass rush in this year’s draft until the 5th round and still haven't signed an available veteran. They need 2022 No. 1 pick Travon Walker to make a major jump in year 2 (he had 3.5 sacks as a rookie) and LB Josh Allen to bounce back after a poor season. Allen pressured the QB 64 times last season (fourth in the NFL), but he only generated 7 sacks. He must get home to help this defense out.
Will make the playoffs if…
The defense can get after the QB consistently and Lawrence builds on his 2nd year with Peterson.
Season Prediction
The Jaguars are poised to take a stranglehold on this division. Doug Peterson proved to be the right man to take over for the disaster that was Urban Meyer. He helped develop QB Trevor Lawrence, installed an explosive offense and brought credibility back to Jacksonville. Peterson's second year in Philadelphia saw them go from a good offense to a Super Bowl. They had a young Carson Wentz that was an MVP candidate in Philly before suffering à knee injury. Now you have added Calvin Ridley to an offense that could already put up points with anyone. The division is there for the taking.
Record: 11-6
Tennessee Titans
Photo Credit: USA Today
Key additions: WR Chris Moore, OT Andre Dillard, DE Arden Key, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, LB Ben Niemann, LB Luke Gifford, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, OT/G Peter Skoronski, QB Will Levis, RB Tyjae Spears
Key departures: QB Joshua Dobbs, RB Dontrell Hilliard, WR Robert Woods, TE Austin Hooper, OT Taylor Lewan, G Nate Davis, C Ben Jones, C Corey Levin, DE Bud Dupree, DE Tarell Basham, DT DeMarcus Walker, LB David Long, LB Zach Cunningham, S Andrew Adams, K Randy Bullock
Biggest Strength
They can run the ball and stop the run as well as anyone in the league. The defense was No. 1 against the run last year. Tennessee allowed a league-best 76.9 rushing yards per game last year. This team also has one of the elite RBs in the game in Derrick Henry. He is a physically imposing running back that only gets stronger as the game goes on. Their ability to run the football and stop the run makes Tennessee a unique football team.
Biggest Question Mark
Offensive line has so many question marks that they might not be able to survive the season. Center Aaron Brewer is the only starter that will be back this season for a line that will have 4 new faces. LT Andre Dillard (from the Eagles), rookie Peter Skoronski, and RG Daniel Brunskill (from the 49ers) need to gel fast to protect the QB. Add on top of the new faces that starter Nicholas Petit-Frere is dealing with a suspension for gambling, this thrusts Chris Hubbard into the starting lineup at right tackle.
Will make the playoffs if…
Ryan Tannehill finally shows up in the BIG games and plays like he does when he's in a regular game.
Season Prediction
Adding DeAndre Hopkins was a big win for this team, especially after training away AJ Brown. Hopkins will help Burks develop and they'll have a serious threat on the outside to go with their elite running back. This may be the last season Tennessee has Henry as he's up for a new contract, so they need to put it together now. I don't know if they have enough on defense to stay in ball games and quarterback play always is the issue with Tennessee. Don't be surprised if the rookie is thrust into action if Tannehill struggles.
Record: 8-9
Indianapolis Colts
Photo Credit: CBS Sports
Key additions: CB Julius Brents, WR Josh Downs, DE Samson Ebukam, PK Matt Gay, QB Gardner Minshew, QB Anthony Richardson
Key departures: WR Parris Campbell, CB Brandon Facyson, CB Stephon Gilmore, DE Yannick Ngakoue, LB Bobby Okereke, OT/OG Matt Pryor, QB Matt Ryan, CB Isaiah Rodgers
Biggest Strength
The Colts can stop the run, as DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart are the anchor’s of this run defense. The defense finished 5th in yards per carry allowed last season, but gone are DEYannick Ngakoue and LB Bobby Okereke. The pressure is squarely on stud LB Zaire Franklin, who finished 4th in the NFL in tackles with 166 to be a defensive leader. The defense has always been solid, which is why the Colts always went the veteran route at QB. Now it’s up to this defense to be the heartbeat of this team.
Biggest Question Mark
Can their rookie quarterback learn on the fly? Everyone is raving about Anthony Richardson in preseason and in training camp. The Florida product impressed in the combine enough for the Colts to draft him with the fifth pick. But with the incredible talent and upside that Richardson has, comes the lack of experience. Richardson hasn't played enough football in college to automatically transition to the NFL game and be a day one starter. He'll have to learn on the fly and really prove that he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL. He has the talent but reps and experience go a long way to that learning curve. Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett was a 4-year starter and you could see his maturity in his first season. The jury is still out on Richardson and can learn that fast.
Will make the playoffs if…
If Taylor plays and the Colts can overcome a lack of depth.
Season Prediction
The Colts have hopefully found their franchise quarterback after 5 plus seasons of trying to replace Andrew Luck with veteran quarterbacks. They replaced Frank Reich with new coach Shane Steichen who had the more important job of developing Richardson over playing the playoffs. He has the Jonathan Taylor situation to navigate, but in my opinion Taylor won't be on this team much longer. Trading Taylor will be huge for getting draft picks and building a team around their quarterback. I don't expect this team to be terrible, but I do expect them to be competitive.
Record: 5-12
Houston Texans
Photo Credit: Big Cat Country
Key additions: RB Devin Singletary, WR Noah Brown, WR Robert Woods, TE Dalton Schultz, T Greg Little, G Shaq Mason, QB C.J Stroud, DE Will Anderson Jr., CB Shaquill Griffin, S Jimmie Ward
Key departures: QB Kyle Allen, RB Rex Burkhead, WR Brandin Cooks, WR Phillip Dorsett, RB Royce Freeman, WR Chris Moore, TE O.J. Howard, DE Rasheem Green, OL A.J. Cann, DE Ogbo Okoronkwo, DL Mario Addison
Biggest Strength
After being criticized as a joke of an organization that hired coaches they had no intention of keeping, the Houston Texans may have found their coach of the future. DeMeco Ryans was the hot higher in the off season and surprisingly went to a terrible Texans organization. This is a team that was accused of tanking for the last few years. Now Ryans is in charge and takes over a surprisingly strong Titans pass defense. The defense had more interceptions (16) than allowed passing touchdowns (15). The 15 passing touchdowns allowed was the lowest in the league last season. Now enter defensive guru in Ryans, top draft pick Will Anderson Jr, safety Jimmie Ward and now you might have something.
Biggest Question Mark
The wide receiver group is questionable after trading away Brandon Cooks and they have rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud throwing to them. That's no shade on Stroud, who I think can be a good quarterback in this league. League. But a rookie quarterback needs a little help from the receivers, and they are young. Tank Dell, Nico Collins and veteran Robert Woods have some potential but don't strike fear in defenses. The group struggled to consistently get open down the field in preseason and can put to much pressure on Stroud.
Will make the playoffs if…
The defense elevates to a top level defense under Ryans and the take care of the football on offense.
Season Prediction
Similar to the Colts, the Texans aren't expected to really make a serious run in the playoffs. This team is looking to establish a program under Ryan's and develop their rookie quarterback in year one. Stroud has the potential to be a really good quarterback, but he needs the weapons around him to succeed. They will need to lean on a running game early and strong defense. But I don't even think that's enough for this team that just needs to draft more talent.
Record: 4-13
