NFL Playoff Picture: Week 9
By Martin Bater
AFC South
- Indianapolis Colts (4-5)
- Houston Texans (3-5)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)
- Tennessee Titans (2-6)
This division is even more fraudulent than the NFC East, and that is saying something.
One good game does not make or repair an entire season. Good for Indianapolis for stomping on the Broncos’ throat and taking a commanding 17-0 lead against the league’s best defense in the first half before Adam Viniateri was clutch with his 55-yard field goal to stick it to Peyton Manning one more time. Old habits die hard.
Also, congratulations to Andrew Luck for playing within himself and remembering not throwing an interception is generally a good thing.
Having said that, the Colts still have a losing record and they will have to prove that a quality win didn’t also disguise itself as a mirage with the new offensive coordinator as a momentary boost for a spell.
Three division games remain for them along with four other dates with teams currently over .500. The only winning team on their way is the Steelers, and they might not even have Roethlisberger back by then.
Houston had a bye during Week 9, but their road to a division crown is much bumpier. They have a killer stretch between Weeks 13 and 15 that includes a road game at Buffalo, at home against the Patriots and finally at Indianapolis.
If they manage to survive that, their reward is back-to-back games against the Jaguars and Titans.
Tennessee showed signs of growth by winning at New Orleans and can think that it finally found its franchise quarterback in Marcus Mariota.
Jacksonville, on the other hand, is a frontrunner for a top two pick in the 2016 Draft and still doesn’t know what Blake Bortles’ ceiling is as a starter. All they know is they keep losing no matter who is under center.
Next: AFC West