NFL: Breaking Down the Schedules for the AFC South Teams

For the first time since the inception of the AFC South, a team other than the Indianapolis Colts or Tennessee Titans won the division last year. The Houston Texans not only won their first ever division title, but won their first ever playoff game as well. And they did it the same year the Colts suffered their first losing since joining the AFC South in 2002.

Now the entire landscape of the division has changed and soon enough, the Colts, Titans and Jaguars will all start young quarterbacks drafted within a year of each other.

The winds of change have completely blown through the AFC South and this year things are wide open.


Indianapolis Colts

Rough is the only way to describe what Andrew Luck's rookie season with the Colts is going to be like.

The Stanford standout will take his hits like any rookie quarterback, but the team has a ton of holes to fill, and they won't be able to do it all in one draft.

Their schedule, in which they play the NFC North and AFC East, doesn't help matters any.

Luck's introductory season has trips to the Chicago Bears, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs.

Projected Record: 4-12

Tennessee Titans

The Titans went 9-7 last year with an injury-depleted roster. But even with these players returning, they'll have a hard time replicating that success.

In fact, with the first six games against the Patriots, at the Chargers, at home versus the Lions, at Texans, at Vikings, and at home against the Steelers, it wouldn't be surprising at all to see them go 2-4 to start the year.

If they do struggle early, we could also see them jump to Jake Locker, which means excitement, but possible growing pains.

Everything for the Titans depends on how they start the season.

Projected Record: 7-9


Jacksonville Jaguars

Times they are a changing in Jacksonville, but it won't come with a lot of wins this season.

Blaine Gabbert will get one more crack at being the signal-caller for the Jags, but there isn't a ton of promise there. And, with Mike Mularkey in place, there won't be a huge leash for a quarterback that he never signed off on.

Maurice Jones-Drew will have his work cut out for him again, but this team's offense can't be as inept as they were last year...or can they?

Projected Record: 5-11


Houston Texans

The reigning division champs would really need to drop off to lose their hold a top the totem pole.

With Matt Schaub back under center, Arian Foster freshly paid, Andre Johnson healthy and their defense in the second year of a 3-4 scheme, they should be even better.

The Texans should dominate the division, but a three-game road stretch against the Lions, Titans and Patriots will define their playoff seeding.

Projected Record: 10-6 (No. 3 seed in AFC)