NFL Pro Football 2007 AFC South Preview

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Fearless Rick's NFL Preview - AFC SOUTH

Rick Gagliano | 8/03/2007

AFC SOUTH - Predicted order of finish and (predicted record)

Indianapolis Colts (12-4) - The Super Bowl champion Colts are looking for the twofer, but it won't be easy. Every team they play will be looking for the upset and gearing everything toward shutting down Peyton Manning and the Colts' high-octane offense.

The Colts are again the class of the division, which may be the best in the NFL, but the schedule is daunting. In addition to having to play Jacksonville and Tennessee twice each, the Colts have travel dates at Carolina, San Diego and Baltimore, and get Denver, New England and Kansas City at home.

Still, the Colts should be able to win at least half of those games and maybe more. Even with a defense that has been maligned in the press and by opposing teams, the Colts are a lock for the playoffs and a return trip to the Super Bowl is only a win over either San Diego or New England away.

Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6) - The Jags were very competitive in 2006, especially on defense, allowing just 283.6 yards per game, second only to Baltimore in the league. The offense was also proficient, averaging 23.2 points and 338.9 yards per contest, ranking in the league's top third in both categories.

Playing with second string QB David Garrard most of the season, however, resulted in the Jags' losing their last three games and finishing 8-8 and out of the playoffs. This season will be different is Byron Leftwich can remain healthy. Running backs Fred Taylor and Maurice Drew-Jones provide a one-two punch that few teams can rival. The Jaguars were behind only Atlanta and San Diego with 158.8 rushing yards per game in 2007. A full season with Leftwich at the helm should even out the offensive attack and give Jacksonville positive momentum.

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Tennessee Titans (8-8) - With Vince Young directing the offense, the sky's the limit in Tennessee. Their impressive 6-0 late season run sadly ended with a defeat to the Patriots and an 8-8 record. The Titans should get off to a better start than their 2006 0-5 record, and that should help down the stretch.

LenDale White should emerge as the every down back, and David Givens returns as the go-to guy at wideout after missing most of the 2006 season due to injury.

The problem for the Titans is that they're playing in a really rough neighborhood and their defense, which allowed a league high 25 points and 369.7 yards per game, may not be up to the task. If you put these guys in the NFC East or West, they'd probably run away with the division, but here, they're just another .500 club.

Houston Texans (5-11) - After year of mediocrity, the Texans traded away QB David Carr and will start Matt Schaub behind center. Schaub was 18-27 in mostly mop-up roles in Atlanta last season, but the Texans feel that he's worth a shot. Either that or Carr, who led the league in being sacked over the past three seasons, was so damaged he couldn't last another season.

Schaub probably won't be around after week 8, when Sage Rosenfels will be selected as the next victim. Carr was easily a better QB than either of these guys. The Texans are crying for attention, though they won't get much with bone-headed front office moves like this. Despite winning 6 games in 2006, this team is taking a step backwards.

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