The AFC saw the Jaguars easily take the division with a 15-2 record. But after a tough exit in the playoffs, Coach Isaiah and the Jaguars would part ways. The Jaguars would then hire Coach Allen in hopes that he can help the Jaguars continue their winning ways. But it won’t be easy as the Texans and the Colts would have new coaching hirings of their own. Bringing in Coach Xan (Texans) and Coach Sleepy (Colts) will surely make it tougher on the Jags. Not to mention the Titans, who had a great turnaround in the 2nd half last season. So who takes the division?
Jaguars– As mentioned above, the Jaguars have a new Head Coach in Coach Allen. With the addition of Ronnie Stanley, C.J. Henderson, and Kenny Clark, the Jaguars look even better than before. With Worthy and Sturdivant expected to take another jump in their sophomore seasons, the Jaguars offense should cause headaches. Or will it? Coach Allen’s scheme is usually pass-heavy, but with a running back like Etienne, it will be interesting to see how this offense runs in week 1. Is there a possibility that we see Etienne request a trade before the trade deadline? Defensively, the Jaguars look like a threat. Kenny Clark, Maason Smith, and Trevon Walker have the speed and athleticism to generate extreme pressure. The Jaguars secondary features guys like Cisco, Campbell, Henderson, and Johnson. And I can’t forget about last year’s DPOY Devin Lloyd. On paper, this team looks good, but will Coach Allen’s new scheme cause the Jaguars to have a slow start to the season? Or will it lift the Jags to new heights?
Titans– The Titans ended the year strong. And if it wasn’t for their week 18 loss against the Jags, the Titans would have made the playoffs. But even in the loss, the Titans ended the season with their heads held high. That is because the Titans found themselves. I continue to say that when a team finds their identity, they can beat anybody. The Titans looked at themselves in the mirror and saw that they had King Henry and Spears. The dominant run game would make Will Levis’ job much easier. Levis would throw for 34 touchdowns with only 14 interceptions. The run game would also allow the Titans to chew out the clock as opposing defenses grew more and more tired. And when the opposing defense finally got off the field, the Titans’ defense started to step up. There are new Head Coaches in this division, so it’s hard to not put my money on Coach Shultz, who has already shown what he can do with his team.
Texans– The Texans had a wild offseason. Trading away Will Anderson and this other guy named….C.J. Stroud. The Texans had the future in mind, understanding that those guys would need to get paid soon. But don’t be mistaken: The Texans still have enough to win now. The Texans would get Hendon Hooker and a bunch of draft picks. Notable picks are Luther Burden, Chris Marshall, and Jaleel Skinner. This was another team that started to get on fire to end the season. Coach Xan is a heck of a coach. It is clear that upper management is surrounding a group of guys that fit his scheme perfectly. Trust me, he will put this team in the best position to win. Do not sleep on the Texans.
Colts– The Colts also hired a new Head Coach in Coach Sleepy. Although the Colts would have a messy end to the season, there was a point in time when they were ranked 3rd offensively. They were putting up 40 points a game! Defensively, they sent a lot of blitzes that forced opposing quarterbacks to make tough throws. With Buckner and Paye rushing toward you and a tough secondary behind them, I’m sure you can guess how great they were defensively. Well at least to start the season. Rumors started to spread that Colts’ players were not happy with the way their former Head Coach approached the game. Apparently, he had terrible attendance and did not show that his coaching role meant a lot to him. With Coach Sleepy on board, the Colts will look to be that explosive offense and lockdown defense that they were to start last season. And if they can be that, they can win the division.
AGS AFC South Division Winner Prediction– Texans. I believe Coach Xan and the Texans know what they are doing. I believe they are the most underrated team in the league right now. Just imagine if rookies like Luther Burden and Chris Marshall can make an immediate impact. Imagine Hendon Hooker comes out on a mission after his poor performance in the playoffs. Imagine this secondary featuring Stingley, Newsome, and Pitre showcasing their lockdown skills. They will cause havoc. And I don’t think we will have to imagine that much longer. I believe the Texans will kill it this season and they are my pick to win the division.
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