We venture down south to continue looking at each team’s best- and worst-case scenarios for the coming 2020 season, as we now look at the teams in the AFC South. Just remember the huge caveat to this series: If COVID-19 takes out a team to the point where they can’t even compete, that is obviously worst-case scenario for every team; therefore, that will not be listed as the worst-case scenario for any team.
Let’s get to it.
Houston Texans:
Unfortunately, the team’s offseason centered on the bad trade made with Arizona to ship out franchise star receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, for little return. However, the team is still intact and have one of the most dynamic QBs in the NFL in Deshaun Watson. The team isn’t a top-tier team, but their dangerous.
>Best Case Scenario: AFC Championship Game Appearance
The Texans were on the cusp, granted by fluky nature, of beating the eventual Super Bowl winners in Kansas City…until Patrick Mahomes went crazy. This team is still very talented, and if it can find some consistency, they could find their way back to the spot they were in and pull it out. The Texans lack depth to make it past the AFC Championship game, but it is very feasible that the Texans could find themselves competing in that game with their star players leading the way.
>Worst Case Scenario: Wild Card Playoff Team
This team is top heavy, lacking depth at many key positions. That along with their consistency issues could come back to haunt them if they are careful. However, they have the added benefit of playing in the AFC; this alone will aid them in getting back to the playoffs. I can’t see a Deshaun Watson led football team outside of the playoffs, but I could easily see them being bounced out early because they can’t get it together like some other teams in the conference.
Indianapolis Colts:
This team has a tremendous roster when it comes to their core players. Their offensive line is outstanding, and their defense has some pieces that can make the team a dangerous outfit to play on Sundays. My concerns for this team however come from the QB position. The Colts are presenting their acquisition of veteran Philip Rivers as if it is the solution to their late season woes in 2019; and he is not that. Rivers was a turnover machine last season, who had clearly lost some of the physical ability to play the way that he has in the past. This team will go as far as Philip Rivers’ control of the football can take them. Or the possibility is there that they can get a boost from the early ’19 form of backup Jacoby Brissett in relief of Rivers, and possibly find some success.
>Best Case Scenario: Wild Card Playoff Team
The Colts have a road-grating run attack behind their offensive line, which will aid them greatly on offense. They also added a premier downhill runner in Jonathan Taylor during the draft process this offseason, as well as a complimentary pass-catcher to T.Y. Hilton in Michael Pittman Jr. The offense is turn-key ready, and the defense has the talent to compete and cause some havoc for the opposition. This team could make it to the playoffs if head coach Frank Reich can rekindle his previous success with Philip Rivers from their days together in San Diego. If Rivers can be more of a careful game-manager that can make the occasional big play this team has a real shot of making the playoffs.
>Worst Case Scenario: 6-10
This all comes back to the question mark of quarterback play. In this scenario, Rivers will continue to be a turnover machine and the team will suffer for it. A downtrodden Rivers means a more successful run defense on the part of the opposition, as they won’t respect the passing attack of Indy; which will effectively neutralize the power attack the Colts are capable of on the ground. In turn if the offense isn’t performing well the Colts defense will struggle to keep the game close enough to a winnable situation. It all comes back to Rivers, and in this scenario he isn’t very good.
Jacksonville Jaguars:
A team refusing to the rebuild when everyone in the world knows that is what they have to do. The team has been in a perpetual state of clinging to a few good players, in somewhat of a rotating fashion, yet never going out and finding the talent they need to get over the hump. It has been three years since they somehow found a way into the AFC Championship game with Blake Bortles, and they’ve lost the majority of the players that got them there in a slow fashion while finding subpar replacements for them. Current QB Gardner Minshew is a placeholder for the next guy, unless something changes to show otherwise. The offense was lackluster last season, and the defense matched. This team has some promising young players after this year’s draft, but the core that made them a fearsome team is gone; and that will all show this season.
>Best Case Scenario: 6-10, and another top ten selection in the draft
The Jaguars are going to struggle this year, regardless of your opinion of them. They have to play the AFC and NFC North this season, and they very well could lose every one of those games. The best thing this team could do is show some improvement on both sides of the ball, with their second-year and rookie players shining throughout the process. That way they can attract a better head coach and general manager pair then their current duo, and buy themselves the necessary time to showcase what they can do with more talent and better coaching.
>Worst Case Scenario: 1-15/2-14, and nothing works
Although this isn’t far off from their best-case scenario, in reality it is lightyears away. In this scenario Minshew would regress and show he isn’t a true starting QB. The offense can’t find any rhythm, and one of their last high-draft pick investments burns out (Leonard Fournette). The defense is overrun due to a lack of cohesion from their downtrodden play. Honestly, this isn’t a stretch possibility. At least they’ll be able to draft another QB with a different coaching staff.
Tennessee Titans:
The surprise team last year is no longer going to sneak up on anybody. They have a hard schedule this season; and teams will be gunning for them to prove themselves, just as they did against the likes of the Patriots, Ravens, and Chiefs last season. They’re results will hinge on their ability to play at a high-level consistently. They kept virtually the same roster as last season, so they clearly have a lot of talent. But can Ryan Tannehill play that good again? Can Derrick Henry carry the ball that many times again? Those, along with other factors will determine the Titans season.
>Best Case Scenario: Division Championship
The Titans are positioned well to make a run at being the top team in their division for a while. They signed the QB and RB that just brought their team to an AFC Championship game to long contracts. Their defense is full of young talent. And the rest of the division is all missing some key ingredients to their teams to confidently say they’re top dog in the AFC South. If Ryan Tannehill finally puts up a follow-up season to a successful season, and the Titans can maintain their offensive balance this team will win the division. They’re still not a championship team, but they’re closing in on becoming one if things stay the course.
>Worst Case Scenario: 7-9, Miss the playoffs
Ever notice that the Titans seemingly always end up 9-7. Well that would break negatively to the inverse in this scenario. The Titans, along with the rest of the AFC South, has a very tough schedule this season. It was going to be extremely difficult to replicate their ’19 run regardless of the opposition. But, against the schedule they’re having to play it is going to be a hellscape to do so. But to bottom out at 7-9 the team will hit a few snags that will dramatically affect them. In this case, Tannehill will come back to the player he has always been, which is an inconsistent QB unworthy of long-term investment. The workload Derrick Henry has been under the past two seasons will grind him to a halt. And the rest of the team will be stymied by their two facilitators being brought back down to Earth.
This is a swing division, with many teams capable of being dangerous playoff outs or disastrous outsiders. The AFC South is a collection of teams that will always be competitive with one another, but the question remains: Can they compete with the rest of the league? Only the 2020 season will tell.
Let me know what you think in the comments, and share to grow the conversation. Follow @AllGoFootball1 on Twitter to keep up to date on the Best/Worse Case Scenario series going into this season, and all other posts from All Go Football.
Finally, wear a mask to do your part.
*Photo Credit to ClutchPoints
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