AFC South 2022 NFL Preview: Are new-look Colts Super Bowl contenders?

The NFL is again, and Sportsnet is breaking down every thing it’s worthwhile to know in regards to the 32 groups trying to ebook a visit to Super Bowl LVII.

Kickoff for the 2022 common season is about for Thursday, Sept. 8 and right now we have a look at the AFC South.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

2021 file: 9-8, second in AFC South, missed playoffs

Notable roster additions: QB Matt Ryan, DE Yannick Ngakoue, CB Stephon Gilmore, S Rodney McLeod, QB Nick Foles, Alec Pierce (2022 second-round decide)

Notable roster subtractions: QB Carson Wentz, WR T.Y. Hilton, TE Jack Doyle, RB Marlon Mack, OG Mark Glowinski, OT Eric Fisher, CB Xavier Rhodes, CB Rock Ya-Sin

The excellent news: The workforce received higher whereas the division stays weak total. The low season was highlighted by the commerce that introduced in a brand new beginning QB for the fifth season in a row. Matt Ryan is a borderline Hall of Famer that ought to have a pair good years left in him and is a transparent improve over Carson Wentz on this offence. Ryan has averaged greater than 600 passing makes an attempt over the previous 4 years however ought to have a lighter workload in 2022. Ryan hasn’t performed behind an offensive line this robust in years, if ever, and he has the league’s dashing champ in Jonathan Taylor to do the heavy lifting on this offence. Ryan is at his greatest when the play-action is working and even when he goes down NNick Foles has confirmed to be as dependable a backup as any workforce might ask for.

Indy additionally improved its defensive depth with the addition of move rusher Yannick Ngakoue and perennial Pro Bowl nook Stephon Gilmore to an already well-rounded defence corps. The Colts have the third-easiest power of schedule, based on Sharp Analytics. They’ll knock off 5 of their six divisional matchups throughout the first seven weeks of the schedule – two every versus the Titans and Jaguars and one in opposition to the Texans, who additionally they face within the regular-season finale.

The unhealthy information: The Colts may very well be with out their greatest defensive participant to start out the yr. Shaquille Leonard, previously referred to as Darius, is recovering from low season again surgical procedure and his timetable for a return is unclear. Thankfully he was faraway from the PUP checklist Tuesday and will make his season debut sooner than anticipated. On the offensive facet of the ball, one space of concern is the actual fact Matty Ice is 37 and never a cell QB.

Super Bowl Odds: +2500
Division Title Odds: -150
Wins Total: 9.5 (Over -160/Under +135)

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

2021 file: 3-14, fourth in AFC South (worst file in NFL), missed playoffs for fourth consecutive season

Notable roster additions: OLB Travon Walker (2022 first-overall decide), WR Christian Kirk, G Brandon Scherff, TE Evan Engram, WR Zay Jones, LB Devin Lloyd (2022 first-round decide), OL Luke Fortner (2022 first-round decide), CB Darious Williams, head coach Doug Pederson

Notable roster subtractions: Head coach Urban Meyer, LB Myles Jack, LB Damien Wilson, WR Laviska Shenault Jr., G Andrew Norwell, C Brandon Linder, RB Carlos Hyde, WR D.J. Chark

The excellent news: Could these Jags pull off a miracle turnaround like what the Bengals did in 2021, going from worst to first within the AFC North thanks partially to a breakout season from a sophomore QB that was chosen first total? It’s rather a lot to ask, certain, nevertheless a drastic turnaround is just not out of the query for these Jags. Addition by subtraction will probably be clear as day with the disastrous one-year Urban Meyer experiment within the rear-view mirror. Trevor Lawrence may have a greater likelihood to succeed working with Doug Pederson, who has executed stable work with Carson Wentz and Nick Foles in Philadelphia. Lawrence is surrounded by extra weapons than he had final season, together with certainly one of his former Clemson teammates. Travis Etienne missed his rookie season with a Lisfranc harm however he’ll debut in a backfield that additionally has James Robinson. First-round picks Travon Walker and Devin Lloyd breathe new life and vitality into the defence.

The unhealthy information: Taking a mulligan on final season is simpler stated than executed. How many unhealthy habits have been realized below the earlier coach? Has Pederson mitigated the injury executed in the course of the notorious Meyer period? Lawrence may very well be restricted if not given enough safety from a consensus bottom-10 offensive line. The entrance seven is stuffed with potential, whereas the group of defensive backs leaves a lot to be desired.

Super Bowl Odds: +10000
Division Title Odds: +700
Wins Total: 6.5 (Over +115/Under -135)

HOUSTON TEXANS

2021 file: 4-13, third in AFC South, missed playoffs for second consecutive yr

Notable roster additions: CB Derek Stingley (2022 first-round decide), OG Kenyon Green (2022 first-round decide), S Jalen Pitre (2022 second-round decide), RB Dameon Pierce (2022 fourth-round decide), RB Marlon Mack, Lovie Smith promoted to move coach

Notable roster subtractions: QB Deshaun Watson, QB Tyrod Taylor, RB Mark Ingram, RB Phillip Lindsay, interim head coach David Culley

The excellent news: They can lastly, formally cease answering questions on their former franchise quarterback. Houston’s 2021 marketing campaign was derailed earlier than it started with Deshaun Watson’s commerce request previous to his scandal dominating headlines and overshadowing the workforce’s on-field efforts. In a way, there’s nowhere to go however up after back-to-back four-win seasons. Lovie Smith is a revered veteran bench boss that may function a relaxing stopgap presence for his younger workforce led by sophomore QB Davis Mills. Star left deal with Laremy Tunsil returns after solely enjoying 5 video games final season and Mills nonetheless has perennial 1,000-yard receiver Brandin Cooks as his high goal. The workforce is more healthy than it was final season and gained’t have the worst o-line within the division, which might bode properly for rookie operating again Dameon Pierce and others to thrive in offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton’s system.

Also, the Browns presumably gained’t be pretty much as good with out Watson whereas he serves his suspension, which might assist the Texans in the long term. Houston acquired 2023 first- and third-round picks as a part of the package deal it acquired from Cleveland within the blockbuster low season commerce. The worse Cleveland does, the higher Houston’s draft place finally ends up being.

The unhealthy information: Houston is projected to complete at or close to the underside of the league standings but once more, which implies Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Alabama’s Bryce Young – the projected high two quarterback prospects within the 2023 draft class – will probably be linked to Houston all through the season, a possible distraction for Mills. Despite including Derek Stingley Jr., who has celebrity potential, and Jalen Pitre to the secondary, the defensive backfield stays comparatively weak.

The Texans had the worst dashing assault within the NFL in 2021, a few of that may be attributed to usually enjoying from behind — a difficulty they might as soon as once more face this yr. Mills has perennial 1,000-yard receiver Brandin Cooks to depend on, nevertheless this workforce might have problem stretching the sector – particularly with out speedy Canadian rookie John Metchie, who was identified with leukemia in July. Houston additionally has one of the vital tough power of schedule scores, dealing with the Colts, Broncos and Chargers in three of the primary 4 weeks of the season.

Super Bowl Odds: +17500
Division Title Odds: +2800
Wins Total: 4.5 (Over -110/Under -110)

TENNESSEE TITANS

2021 file: 12-5, first in AFC South (greatest file in AFC), misplaced to Bengals in divisional spherical

Notable roster additions: WR Robert Woods, WR Treylon Burks (2022 first-round decide), CB Roger McCreary (2022 second-round decide), TE Austin Hooper, RB Hassan Haskins (2022 fourth-round decide), QB Malik Willis (2022 thrd-round decide)

Notable roster subtractions: WR A.J. Brown, WR Julio Jones, OG Rodger Saffold, OT David Quessenberry, LB Rashaan Evans

The excellent news: This Titans workforce has improved year-over-year below the management of reigning Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel, who boasts a 41-24 file over the previous 4 seasons. The fashionable bench boss is aware of encourage his roster and the way in which the workforce persevered by means of a slew of accidents to key starters final season is a testomony to that.

Safety Kevin Byard and defensive deal with Jeffrey Simmons are excellent abilities and can proceed to be leaned on closely. Simmons clogs up the center of the road of scrimmage and helps the move rush as Byard assesses and impacts performs at an All-Pro stage from the secondary. Rookie nook Roger McCreary hopes to assist restrict massive performs by means of the air, which at instances the Titans have been vulnerable to in 2021. Tennessee’s largest problem throughout the division is Indy and the Titans had constant success in opposition to the Colts in latest seasons.

The unhealthy information: In brief, this can be a run-heavy workforce whose offensive line received worse on paper and whose star operating again is coming off a foot fracture and subsequent surgical procedure. Derrick Henry is a novel expertise as a ball service together with his mixture of measurement, pace, and brute pressure, though some regression is predicted this yr, particularly with the offensive line dropping a pair of starters in Rodger Saffold and David Quessenberry. This undoubtedly hurts the operating assault. Three-time Pro Bowl left deal with Taylor Lewan is again however can he regain his outdated type after solely enjoying in 18 complete video games the previous two years?

Replacing A.J. Brown and Julio Jones with Treylon Burks and Robert Woods doesn’t present a lot optimism, at the least not for this season. Neither does Ryan Tannehill’s huge cap hit, which makes one assume possession/administration is prepared to take a step again this yr. What might want to occur for the workforce to show to backup QB Malik Willis, whose inventory fell dramatically in the course of the draft earlier this yr? A fourth consecutive journey to the playoffs could be a nice shock for this roster.

Super Bowl Odds: +3000
Division Title Odds: +150
Wins Total: 9.5 (Over +115/Under -135)