CAN JAGS TAKE NEXT STEP?
Amid High Expectations In Jacksonville, Rest Of Teams In Division Are Stronger, Healthier
For so very long, the AFC South easily ranked among the NFL's worst divisions. Not anymore. Both Jacksonville and Tennessee are coming off playoff berths, with the Jaguars a blown lead in the AFC championship game from playing in the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. The Jaguars and Titans also have their rosters from those trips back largely intact. Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt are healthy again in Houston. Even Andrew Luck is throwing passes and ready for the season in Indianapolis.
“It's crazy how nobody wanted to play in the AFC South a couple years ago,” Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith said. “Now it seems like it'll be one of the premier (divisions) in the league.”
The Jaguars not only are defending division champs, they are looking for a second straight playoff berth for the first time since 1998-99. The Titans changed coaches after consecutive 9-7 seasons because sweeping Jacksonville last season wasn't enough to win the AFC South, and another postseason would be their first back-to-back berths since 2007-08. If the Texans stay healthy, they are chasing their third division title in four years.
The Colts have a lot of rebuilding ahead, but a healthy Luck is so good that Indianapolis always has a chance.
Here's what to look for out of the AFC South this season:
Yes, the Jaguars not only are contenders, they are a popular pick to reach their first Super Bowl. That means dealing with high expectations from the start.
“That's a big jump, but I feel like we're going to put ourselves in the right position to be an immediate contender,” defensive tackle Malik Jackson said. “I think with the defensive product that we put out there, the offensive product we put out there, and special teams, if we do anything less than what we did (last) year, it'd be a huge disappointment. I know we're going to be consistent. I can promise you that.”
All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey is keeping Jacksonville lively with his comments — positive and disparaging — on NFL quarterbacks. But Jaguars coach Doug Marrone has every key starter back, including 10 of 11 on one of the league's stingiest defenses featuring six Pro Bowlers. Blake Bortles' right wrist has been surgically repaired, and he has an offense that led the NFL in rushing last season.
Tennessee has a first-time head coach who won three Super Bowl rings playing linebacker in New England, Mike Vrabel. This franchise also has been busy building the past three years trying to compete not only in the division but the AFC. The Titans gave themselves a big confidence boost by rallying for a wild-card win in Kansas City before a