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One of the youngest and most uncertain divisions heading into the 2023 NFL season is the AFC South. While that may be troubling from a long-term stability perspective, it creates one of the most exciting environments for a divisional battle in football.
The Jacksonville Jaguars sit atop the pecking order after a late-season surge helped them get to and win a playoff game in 2022. The Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans all drafted top-end quarterbacks and are transitioning to the future and have supporting casts of varying abilities.
How will the Jags function as the hunted instead of the hunters? And will youthful naivety help one of these teams spring an upset? Here’s our full breakdown of what is to come in the AFC South.
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The Jaguars are the favorites to win the 2023 AFC South title. They went 9-8 and were the only AFC South team with a winning record in 2022 and even came back from 27-0 down to the Los Angele Chargers in the playoffs to advance to the second round, where they lost a close game to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Trevor Lawrence’s in-season development was crucial in Jacksonville’s widespread improvement. They have concerning gaps in the secondary but can collapse the pocket and also have one of the seven best quarterbacks in the league, leaving them in a strong spot at the most important position on the field.
The Tennessee Titans are the next-closest team in odds but could be receiving a facelift sooner than later. Ryan Tannehill’s tenure in barbecue country had a nice run but appears to be coming to an end, which would presumably leave rookie Will Levis to step in and save the Titans’ title hopes.
The Jaguars have everything that a team needs to succeed in the modern NFL: a top-end quarterback, a risk-taking head coach, and a defense that can get after the QB and force turnovers. They outscored opponents by nearly a touchdown on average while winning six of their last seven games in 2022 and are in their “take the leap” year that should see them vault into perennial top-four seeding.
Sorry, Texans fans, but top draft picks C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. have essentially no hope of overcoming a roster completely bereft of talent. The true outside challengers to the AFC South are the Colts, who have a running game and playmaking receivers and can also get after the quarterback. Whether or not they do contend for the division pennant will come down to how quickly rookie QB Anthony Richardson can enter the lineup and be productive while doing so.
Year | Winner |
2002 | Tennessee Titans |
2003 | Indianapolis Colts |
2004 | Indianapolis Colts |
2005 | Indianapolis Colts |
2006 | Indianapolis Colts |
2007 | Indianapolis Colts |
2008 | Tennessee Titans |
2009 | Indianapolis Colts |
2010 | Indianapolis Colts |
2011 | Houston Texans |
2012 | Houston Texans |
2013 | Indianapolis Colts |
2014 | Indianapolis Colts |
2015 | Houston Texans |
2016 | Houston Texans |
2017 | Jacksonville Jaguars |
2018 | Houston Texans |
2019 | Houston Texans |
2020 | Tennessee Titans |
2021 | Tennessee Titans |
2022 | Jacksonville Jaguars |
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The Indianapolis Colts have won the most AFC South titles (nine). The Houston Texans (six) are next, followed by the Tennessee Titans (four) and Jacksonville Jaguars (two).
Only one AFC South team has won a Super Bowl, the Indianapolis Colts. They beat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI in 2006 29-17 behind 247 yards, a touchdown, and an interception from Peyton Manning, and 113 yards and a touchdown by Dominic Rhodes.The Colts then made Super Bowl XLIV in 2010 but lost it 31-17 to Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. Indy also has two losses in the AFC Championship Game, while the Titans and Jaguars have done the same once.
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Grant is a sports and sports betting journalist who prides himself on delivering breaking news and insightful analyses of the industry. Grant graduated from Virginia Tech in 2021 and is feverishly pursuing his ambitions in the sports betting field.
In his free time, Grant can be found passionately watching sports, doing a workout, or searching for adventure with his friends.
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