For the AFC East preview, click here.
For the NFC South preview, click here.
Now that there's something to look forward to pertaining to the NFL season involving Confessions of a Sportscaster, let's get back to work on these previews. As we prepare for the final week of the preseason starting today, we're looking at the AFC South.
AFC South
Common opponents on schedule: AFC East, NFC North
2011 Record: 10-6, lost in AFC Divisional round
The first playoff trip in franchise history was a relatively successful one in that they won their first ever playoff game before bowing out to Baltimore. It's something of a what-if team since they lost Matt Schaub for the playoffs, but the rest of the team more than made up for it. With a healthy Schaub back throwing to Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels while Arian Foster attacks the ground, the Texans are poised to build a mini-dynasty in the division while the Colts reload (see below). The defense also has some good weapons like J.J. Watt and Jonathan Joseph that will help Reliant Stadium host a playoff game for the second straight January.
2011 Record: 2-14, missed playoffs
I'm probably insane for thinking this, given the Colts are a year removed from their worst season in the 21st century, playing a rookie at quarterback (albeit arguably the most talented one fresh out of school since the last guy the Colts picked up in that situation (some Manning kid...), and switching to a 3-4 defense thus moving mainstays Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis to outside linebackers. But Andrew Luck still has decent weapons in Reggie Wayne and brought some teammates from Stanford. It's a tough schedule in this division, but with the 4th place schedule, the Colts could overachieve to 2nd but still have a losing record.
2011 Record: 5-11, missed playoffs
I flip-flopped between Tennessee and Jacksonville here, ultimately deciding on Jacksonville for this spot because I'm not sold on Blaine Gabbert. He does have some good weapons in rookie Justin Blackmon and stud running back Maurice Jones-Drew. There's some decent personnel on defense as well, so I think they can offset any continued struggles by Gabbert. If he shows improvement in his second year, the Jaguars could threaten for 2nd place.
2011 Record: 9-7, missed playoffs
The Titans will likely be relying on 2nd year man Jake Locker to run the offense, though I'm sure a lot of the work will fall to Chris Johnson, who I would assume can't possibly have as disappointing a year as he did last year following a holdout. There's some good personnel on defense, and they could overachieve to 2nd in the division above Indy and Jacksonville, but I'm just not sure I see it. For whatever reason I'm not sold on this team. It seemed to work out okay in thinking about the Cleveland Indians this season, but whether it will work here, I don't know.
We're finally at the halfway point of the previews. Look forward to the couple of games tonight before tomorrow's smorgasbord of preseason finales. Just one more week till the start of the regular season!
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