NFL Predictions 2020: Dark horse picks to win each division
By Randy Gurzi
AFC South: Indianapolis Colts
The AFC South proved to be one of the tightest races in the conference last season with the Houston Texans winning the title with a record of 10-6 which was just ahead of the Tennessee Titans who went 9-7. The Indianapolis Colts weren’t too far behind at 7-9 and the Jacksonville Jaguars rounded things out with a mark of 6-10.
The Colts, who were just a couple of games away from being in the mix, could potentially make a leap this coming season. They added a couple of offensive weapons in the draft with USC wide receiver Michael Pittman and Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor. They also did well in the third round by landing Julian Blackmon from Utah, a talented safety who could contribute early on.
As much as those moves will help, the biggest change comes under center. Jacoby Brissett was the starter following the retirement of Andrew Luck and while he was a good player, he didn’t move the needle enough. More of a game manager, Brissett moves back to second-string this season as the Colts signed Philip Rivers who spent the past 16 seasons with the Chargers.
Rivers struggled some in 2019, throwing 23 touchdowns and 20 picks but he was still able to gain 4,615 yards through the air for Los Angeles. He’s also just one season removed from a remarkable 2018 campaign in which he led L.A. to a 12-4 mark.
Playing in the dome in Indy could help him make the most of the final years of his career and even with the problems he had last year, he seems to be an upgrade for them. His arm talent mixed with their solid draft makes Indy a team to watch in the AFC South.