The Texans are still adding pieces, the Colts are still skipping through the South, and the Jaguars and Titans are trying to make playoff pushes.
Here, I discuss and give my prediction for the upcoming season for the four teams that represent the AFC South division.
Houston Texans: my prediction (1-15, misses playoffs)
The Texans are clearly on the rise, but just how much higher they will go this season is still in question. Offensively, the key will be getting the running game developed. Injuries have hurt the Texans so much at running back the past two seasons that they have not been able to implement the run-first offense Gary Kubiak successfully ran in Denver. If they can develop that if will open up more big plays in the passing game for wide receiver Andre Johnson and cut back on the number of times quarterback Matt Schaub gets hit. Defensively, the team must be effective rushing the quarterback. If the Texans are unable to apply adequate pressure, the secondary will be exploited, especially in the first half of the season when it will be without cornerback Dunta Robinson. End Mario Williams must pick up where he left off last season when he tallied 14 sacks, and defensive tackle Amobi Okoye needs to make a big jump from his rookie season to his sophomore campaign. The offense will change a little with the departure of assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, now the coach at Texas A&M. Instead of using some of Green Bay’s gap sheme and Denver’s zone blocking scheme, the Texans will go completely to the zone-blocking scheme. Assistant head coach/ offense Alex Gibbs will oversee the development of the offensive line, which is sure to help improve the blocking in the run game.
Indianapolis Colts: my prediction (14-2, loses in Divisional Playoffs)
The Colts are contenders again (no shock) because Peyton Manning is still the quarterback and Tony Dungy keeps improving a defense built for speed. But this schedule is the toughest since Dungy arrived in Indy with eight 2007 playoffs foes, so it’s imperative injured stars return to form as defensive end Dwight Freeney (foot), receiver Marvin Harrison (knee), and safety Bob Sanders (shoulder) recover from surgeries. The O-line, bolstered by the addition of three drafted rookies, must improve because the 2007 Colts relied too much on the pass and didn’t protect Manning as well as in years past. Third-year back Joseph Addai is a better talent then his 4.1 yards-per-carry average in his second year. If Freeney isn’t the same double-team-demanding force, the Colts need to find another way to pressure the pocket or secondary zone coverages will be exploited. The Colts are the class of the AFC South as five-time defending champions, but now a season removed from Super Bowl glory, fans have reason to expect more than one-and-done playoff exits as home favorites that sandwiched the championship. The Colts made NFL history with a fifth consecutive 12-win season last year, but shouldn’t being so good for so long translate to more than one title? The Colts don’t need to be reminded that rival New England has raised three championship banners since 2001.
Jacksonville Jaguars: my prediction (10-6, misses playoffs)
The Jaguars believed they were only a player or two away from making a Super Bowl run in 2008. With that in mind, they
38 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Spenser T. Harrison 12 months ago
i don't get how from what you said the texans are 1-15; or how you have so many teams with that record all ready that it is statisically impossible.
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Carter . 12 months ago
when i wrote the article, i looked at the Texans schedule and saw which teams that are filled with more talent as a whole than the them. as i looked, i saw that all teams on the schedule were better put together except for the Miami Dolphins. the only two teams i have going 1-15 are the Houston Texans and the Washington Redskins.
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Spenser T. Harrison 12 months ago
Ok but your outlook as a whole dosen't make any sense. Like I've said there is a line between being bold and being idiotic. You have two 1-15 teams (both of whom i garentee will have over 5), as well as two 0-16 teams (something that has never happened in the NFL even once).
On top of this you have waaaaay to many teams above 12 wins. Dallas is a great team but you can't honestly expect them to go 16-0 in the toughest division; at least for someone who claims not to play favorites. What I'm saying is your not necessarily wrong about the good teams, or where theyll end up in regards to their divison but you need alot of work on predicting records; there is never this much gap in the NFL. Much less two 16-0 teams, two 0-16 teams.
As for the Texans; the bears? lions? bengals? have more talent? please. By the way the Texans beat the Saints last year but apparantly they are a 15-1 team.
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nick bowen 12 months ago
Wow this guy argues over stupid shit u dont no how he does the rankings. He looks at the scedule or however u spell it and sees what teams he thinks they can beat and have u seen houstons
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Spenser T. Harrison 12 months ago
Nick,
Yes i've seen houstons SCHEDULE (there you go for future reference) and there is no way they are going 1-15. Either way his records don't add up.
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Carter . 12 months ago
Exactly, nick! im a guy who looks at the schedule as a whole before he preditcs a teams record. Not all these NFL are going to have the exact same record i have them at. That would be dumb. Thats what makes predictions fun to do. At the end of the year, many people like to go back and look at their previous predictions and see the difference between your record and the real one. Many people have said that my pick of Dallas going 16-0 might now happen, im not saying its going to happen for sure, on paper, the Cowboys have alot more experienced or talented players on their squad as a whole more than every other team on their schedule. Nick, over here, seems to get the picture clearly. Look at the schedule before you can really make an accurate pick. Spenser, it sounds like, hasnt done that, nor will he ever. Back to the Texans, i still say 1-15 or close to it. and them beating the Saints last year...that was last year...Again, thanks to Nick for making a good point. and for Spenser, id be embarrassed if i were you...
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Spenser T. Harrison 12 months ago
I guess i shouldn't try to argue with you since you know nothing about football as i pointed out earlier in your saints comment; which you deleted because it made you look like an idiot.
I guess i'll just have to wait till the end of the season when nearly all of your predictions are wrong (record wise). Like i said cowboys are great and i think itll prolly be a cowboys v chargers superbowl but your records are ludicrous and it shows you have no real grasp about the NFL game.
I have looked at the schedules kid, and either way your're wrong. One team in history has gone 16-0 and no teams have gone 0-16. Yet you think two teams will go 0-16 and two teams 16-0. Frankly you're semi-retarded or just trying really hard to be different.
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Ron Turner 11 months ago
Texans 1-15, stop smoking that crack boy. It will,has made you ignorant. You must not follow the teams offseason moves nor take into account the injuries suffered the previous year. Using the Texans as an example here. Last 2 years 17,18 players on IR respectively. And during that time have made a six game upswing from their 2-14 year. HMMMM this done with alot of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th string players. Not to bad if you ask me. For the, to finish 8-8 last year was remarkable. Playing most of the year without Andre Johnson(the best reciever in the NFL), Ahman Green, and Matt Schaub. Not to mention they lost 5DB's before the 6th game of the season. They have made solid moves this offseason and I would be willing to make a bet their record is closer to 10 - 6.
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Ron Turner 11 months ago
Texans 1-15, stop smoking that crack boy. It will,has made you ignorant. You must not follow the teams offseason moves nor take into account the injuries suffered the previous year. Using the Texans as an example here. Last 2 years 17,18 players on IR respectively. And during that time have made a six game upswing from their 2-14 year. HMMMM this done with alot of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th string players. Not to bad if you ask me. For the, to finish 8-8 last year was remarkable. Playing most of the year without Andre Johnson(the best reciever in the NFL), Ahman Green, and Matt Schaub. Not to mention they lost 5DB's before the 6th game of the season. They have made solid moves this offseason and I would be willing to make a bet their record is closer to 10 - 6.
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Carter . 11 months ago
The Houston Texans made no significant moves to make them a better football team. The got players by draft and free agency who are not putting up good numbers in the years before, and that just might mean that they won't put up good numbers this year either. I honestly could not name one player they got in the offseason that i see makes his position better for the Texans. They werent a good team before the offseason and their not going to be a good team afterwards based on the pathetic moves they made in the offseason. And Andre Johnson is a fantastic player, but he is not the absolute best wide receiver in the game. He still has greater players before who put up better numbers like Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Reggie Wayne, and Braylon Edwards, along with many others.
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Kenshin Shinobi 11 months ago
Wow, Your prediction is way off, Son!. You cant really judge the Texans by their schedule. Lets go back last year. ESPN/Foxsports experts said the Chiefs, Panthers, Bucs, Saints, and Denver are going to win over the Texans and at the end guess who won the game? the TEXANS. Im guessing you're just hating on the Texans just like everyone else in the media. This is what happens when people write drunk.
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Carter . 11 months ago
I am not judging the Texans by their schedule, im judging them by the talent that theyre going to start their season with and the moves they made in the offseason and who i see on their schedule has better talent and stars on their team and who doesnt. This team as a whole has talent, but their are other teams out there who have more...
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Charles Edwards 11 months ago
Wow Texans going 1-15? That is the most retarded prediction I've seen all season. Interesting thing is the Texans have better depth than all the other teams in the AFC South. If they didn't have depth, how could they lead the league in players on IR (along with the season before) and still go 8-8? Obviously the Broncos and Bills had much less, and they both went 7-9, but the Texans went 8-8! By the way, Titans go 5-11, they were a one year wonder like the Saints before them. Not even really like a wonder, they were a fluke in the playoffs last year.
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Anthony Maddox 11 months ago
Wow Texans going 1-15? That is the most retarded prediction I've seen all season. Interesting thing is the Texans have better depth than all the other teams in the AFC South. If they didn't have depth, how could they lead the league in players on IR (along with the season before) and still go 8-8? Obviously the Broncos and Bills had much less, and they both went 7-9, but the Texans went 8-8! By the way, Titans go 5-11, they were a one year wonder like the Saints before them. Not even really like a wonder, they were a fluke in the playoffs last year.
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jisoo kim 11 months ago
texans were 7-3 on games outside of the division last year. Have you thought about that?
1-15? that's a joke
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Blake Stenway 11 months ago
8-8 in the hardest division in football last year with the league-leading # of player on the IR, including missing significant time from their top-five probowl receiver, their starting QB, their starting RB, their #1 CB, their starting center, their starting left tackle... Need I go on? They're an incredibly young team with rookies and second-year players constantly improving (see Mario's progress from year one to year two). But I assume logic is just going to go straight over your head because you appear to be a complete retard.
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Carter . 11 months ago
I cant name a player on the Texans team who is in the top 5 players in his position category except for Andre Johnson (3rd best wide receiver behind T.O. and Moss). There is no way the Texans will make the playoffs next year. they have absolutely no star power on this team except for Johnson.
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Carter . 11 months ago
the AFC South is definately not the toughest division in the NFL by a long shot. The only team that makes it tough is the Colts. the Texans did go 8-8 last year, and played 6 games against their division and won only one of them (over Jacksonville last game of the year, 42-28) due to lack of consistency. Matt Schaub is too injury prone, Ahman Green is never going to break into being a star player and Mario Williams still hasnt caught the eye of many NFL analysts and fans. Even though he still has much time to do so. this team is filled with too many young/inconsistent talent and this team will not make the playoffs in January. This is a team who might have a hard time rebounding from being number 22 in rushing offense, 25th in passing in passing defense and 24th in total defense. And last but not least but certainly not least they are second-to-last in turnover margin at -13. Numbers are facts and facts are right. the Texans are filled with too many young and incosistant players. case closed.
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Blake Stenway 11 months ago
The AFC south had THE MOST combined wins of any division last year. Numbers are facts and facts are right, kid. The Texans won eight games last year with mostly second-stringers and lost absolutely nobody from last year's team. Case closed.
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Carter . 11 months ago
Yes the Texans lost plenty of players. The Houston Texans lost Shawn Barber, Steve McKinney, Jeb Putzier, and Ron Dayne to free agency, Michael Boulware went to Minnesota, Jerome Mathis went to Washington, Danny Clark went to the Giants, Von Hutchins went to Atlanta, and Cedric Killings retired.
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Blake Stenway 11 months ago
Shawn Barber had six (6) total tackles last year. Michael Boulware had eleven (11) total tackles last year. Cedric Killings had one (1) tackle last year, and broke his neck in week three.
In other words, none of those players contributed in the least.
Jerome Mathis was an atrocious receiver. He was a solid kick-returner, but Andre Davis (who we signed long-term) did an even better job. Jeb Putzier was a third-string tight-end, and barring injury, completely irrelevant. Von Hutchins played only because two of our starting safeties took season-ending injuries, along with Dunta Robinson. He's not particularly good at football; Glenn Earl and Jacques Reeves will fill in just fine.
Steve McKinney took a season-ending injury in week three and the Texans had to make due with Mike friggin' Flanagan (who is terrible and vastly inferior to Chris Myers). And Ron Dayne? Do you really think there's going to be a drop-off there? Danny Clark was decent, but there's a reason nobody ever resigns him. He's incredibly mediocre, and Adibi or Diles will fill in just fine.
So basically, you've mentioned several mediocre or horrible players we didn't resign. And yet, you expect the Texans to regress from 8-8 with injuries at every major position to 1-15? I don't expect an intelligent response from a Cowboys fan, but dear god, man. At least employ some basic reasoning skills so you can avoid looking like a complete idiot.
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Houston Texan 11 months ago
The players you mentioned as the Texans losing will not be missed. They signed a starting center well versed in the zone blocking scheme (zbs), a pass rusher, running back, drafted an offensive lineman perfectly suited for the zbs, drafted & signed LB help, added rotational depth and new talent in the D line and the secondary, and hired Ray Rhodes to create a defensive scheme to play to the strengths.
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Carter . 11 months ago
The starting center you mentioned is Chris Myers, the nobody player from Miami. Kevin Bentley is another guy they signed who isnt even gonna start unless Marlon Greenwood, DeMeco Ryans, or Zac Diles get hurt. Chris Brown failed as a consistent running back in Tennessee and thats why he left, he wont get many snaps because he still has Ahman Green infront of him. Duane Brown will be groomed to eventually replace Ephraim Salaam. The only playmaker they signed in the offseason that could do the most work is CB Jacques Reeves.
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J D 11 months ago
Dude, Carter.... GIVE IT UP. 1-15??? You should be embarrassed of your football knowledge at this point.
Lets walk you through this logically. The Texans are no longer the Dom Capers/Charley Casserly horrible 2-14 team this new regime of Coach Kubiak and GM Rick Smith inherited 2 years ago. They have taken a 2 win team to 6 wins and to 8 wins last year DESPITE being one of the most injured teams in football and playing in one of the toughest divsions in football. We went 7-3 against the rest of the NFL outside the division. So tell me how does a team go 8-8 last year....then get healthy.... thenslide back 7 wins the next year to 1 win total after getting healthy??? That ALONE should make them equal or better than last season (and we arent even talking about this off season additions you know nothing about..i.e. ALEX GIBBS).
Oh...Mario Williams, Andre Johnson, and Demeco Ryans are all top 5 in their respective positions. Talents like Amobi OKoye, Dunta Robinson, Eric Winston, and Fred Bennett all have the talent to re-emerge or rise to close to top 5 level of play here in the future.
Here is some good reading for you to REALLY get to know who you THINK you know. SERIOUSLY!!!! READ SOME OF THESE AND GET BACK TO ME. Or redo your Texans prediction after you actually do some homework before you type anything.
Predictions,etc:
http://www.nfltouchdown.com/houston-texans-2008-preview-report/
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3493682
http://www.nfluk.com/features-display.php?id=3080
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3452045
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8095f28a&template=with-video&confirm=true
http://texanstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51479
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/texans/2008-06-24-organization-report_N.htm
On off season additions:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5897344.html
Who ALEX GIBBS IS:
http://www.houstontexans.com/team/coach.asp?coach_id=27
1-15???? Cmon bro.
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dajjal n 11 months ago
Most epic fail ever imo
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J D 11 months ago
BTW... Texans go 9-7 this year.
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Tom Quinty 11 months ago
"The Texans are clearly on the rise" you state accurately! After that true statement,your predictions,assumptions and many of your facts are false/naive/stupid. Dayne,Mckinney and Putzier were NOT lost to Free Agency,they were CUT!!! The others were allowed to leave because The Texans didn`t want to re-sign them. You ignorantly state The Texans did not upgrade any position during the off-season. Roosevelt Colvin significantly upgrades the DL pass rush: Okam shores up the run defence;Slaton gives The Texans an exciting 3rd down back:Reeves and Molden upgrade the weakest part of the team,the secondary. More than a dozen Texans return from an injury-filled `07. After improving the team,getting their injured players back,after going 8and8, you predict a 1and15 season?!!! I don`t normally bash posters or columnists,but you,Carter,are the worst I`ve ever read!!!
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Carter . 11 months ago
Being lost to free agency and being cut is the same difference. Have you seen the teams that their playing against??? almost all of them are better than them with their overall talent. the exception in Miami, of course. They will not make the playoffs. most of their players on their team are inexperienced and still have alot to learn. look at the schedule and tell me which teams on paper are better than them...nobody except for Miami....why dont you try writing an article for once. youre not even a writer...you just bash others for the fun of it. i still have yet to see yall Texans fans write an article. ive been on the bleacher report for 2 weeks and ive written 28 articles...
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John Jones 11 months ago
Carter, 28 articles in 2 weeks? I am impressed. Are these articles as erroneous as this one? If so, then I can probably whip up several today, especially if I don't take the time to check my facts.
theCATALYST
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Adam Friedman 11 months ago
"i still have yet to see yall Texans fans write an article. ive been on the bleacher report for 2 weeks and ive written 28 articles..."
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/39380-look-out-here-come-the-houston-texans
maybe you might learn something about football. losing a player in free agency and cutting is very different. you cut a player because you dont want him.
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Steel Blue 11 months ago
NFL.com has the Texans at 7th best roster depth.
1-15, please we are a better team than when we went 2-14.
The year after that we went 6-10 and the year after 8-8. I see a trend don't you? It's like Jamie Dukes said we would be 2-14 last year,lol, we ended up 8-8. To say we will go 1-15 is completely ridiculous.
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Peter M 11 months ago
The funny part will be when the Texans make the playoffs and dallas is sitting at home in the post season.
How can you say that you base your prediction on schedule and then you say its based on Talent? If that is the case how can you say that dallas will go 16-0 based on schedule or depth? What did dallas do signigican in the offseason? Romo is great in September, October and the first 3 weeks of November then he disappears. The secondary is overated at best newman and williams are starting the downward spiral of their careers. The receiving core has a good mix, but Glenn must be older than Favre.
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wes man 11 months ago
Oh, I get it, it was a typo, he thinks the Texans are going 15-1, man thats ballsy, id say more like 13-3 though....
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Terrell Owens 11 months ago
wow, reading your comments is like asking my grandma about cricket. No top 5 players? umm Mario Williams, Demeco Ryans, Owen Daniels.......
Your obviously being extremely bias, and if you think 1-15 is even close then we need to talk to your parents. put down the pipe and stay in school....Drugs are Bad Mmmk.
p.s. what are you willing to do when we make the playoffs as an apology for being a jerk?
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Carter . 11 months ago
your obviously a Texans fan but you call youself a fake Terrell Owens, and you say im on drugs...wow thats amazing...Owens Daniels is definately not a top 5 tight end. Those would be (In order) Antonio Gates, Jason Witten, Tony Gonzalez, Chris Cooley, and Kellen Winslow Jr.
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Robert Morgan 11 months ago
Carter...Carter....Carter lol where do i start .ok lets start with your last crap Top 5 tight ends jason witten would not be in it Gates-Gonzalez-winslow-Heap-Clark-witten-cooley ....Ok now for the 1-15 Dude are you serious the Texans were 8-8 last year and should of pulled out wins aginst the titans,atlanta, and the browns if they didnt have all their injurys they would have been a playoff team.
In the offseason they filled all the big holes they had plus added depth and young talent through the draft. A good columnists writes the facts despite their personal bias PLEASE GET BETTER AT WHAT YOU DO CARTER
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Kofi Jackson 11 months ago
Hahahaha, this idiot was getting told by Texans fans, so he deleted their comments. That was weak bro. Real weak. Like catholic school girl weak.
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Carter . 11 months ago
there is no way i can delete their comments on an article of mine, however i can mark them as offensive. In the Bleacher Report, deleting a comment on an article is impossible and not allowed. look at yours articles and try it....o wait...you dont have any articles!!! because your too scared to write one...just like almost all of the other guys who write comments ive been getting! SHUT UP AND GO WRITE AN ARTICLE IF YOUR GONNA BE ON THE BLEACHER REPORT! its ok to admit that someone is better than you...in this case im doing a better job at this than you.
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