NFL Predictions 2018: AFC Division, Wild Card winners

AFC South

Division Champions: Jacksonville Jaguars

I’m going with Jacksonville here, but it won’t be a cake walk. This has become most likely the most stacked division in the AFC after being a punching bag for years, rarely having more than one good team at most. Assuming all teams are healthy, the Texans could be a force to reckoned with, the Titans are coming and the Colts will have Andrew Luck back.

We know the Jags are going to have a dominant defense. They are loaded at every single position with stars and depth. This is the best defense in the AFC bar-none and perhaps the best in the league. On the flip side of that, the offense has a ton of question marks, starting with the quarterback.

Blake Bortles has the potential to lose any game. This offense is almost fully reliant on the legs of Leonard Fournette and if he struggles or goes down, they can be among the worst offenses in the league. Coupled with low-floor quarterback, his passing options aren’t exactly elite. However, we’ve also seen Bortles look strong at times and their young weapons could all develop. If that’s the case they could be Super Bowl bound.

The Texans pose the biggest threat to the Jags. If Deshaun Watson returns to his 2017 form, this team could be scary. He has an elite target, solid rushing attack and a defense that will give him a chance each and every week. There is no ceiling for the Texans if Watson is who many believe he is and they have a real shot to make a run at this as well.

I believe the Titans will be formidable in third, although I do have some reservations because I don’t and never have believed in Marcus Mariota. Last season, the oft-injured play-caller threw 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, which is simply unacceptable on any level. He is the only quarterback that threw more picks than touchdowns last year and still has a starting job. This is a make-or-break year for him.

In last, I’m going with the Colts. Luck will make them competitive, but this team still has a litany of issues. The offensive line should be better, but will it? They aren’t particularly good at stopping the run or the pass either. Their offensive weapons aren’t scaring anybody. They don’t do things that NFL teams need to do to be good at football in general.