Grading the AFC South After Four Weeks
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The AFC South has proved to be a competitive division already, in the young 2013 NFL season. Surprisingly, after four weeks, the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans are tied at the top of the South. The defending AFC South champion Houston Texans are currently a close second, and the Jacksonville Jaguars remain winless. Listed below is a grading and breakdown of each team in the AFC South after week four.
Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4) – It’s always good to start a critique with a positive, rather than a negative comment. Um, the fans who bought a ticket to last Sunday’s Jaguars game got two free beers. Honestly, the Jaguars have struggled in recent seasons, but this team already looks like a train wreck. The Jaguars came out firing against the Colts in week four, playing hard and taking an early three-point lead. Afterward, the Jags gave up 37 unanswered points. Jacksonville has a total of 31 points in four games, and things may get uglier, with the Denver Broncos coming up in week six. The Broncos are averaging more points a game then the Jaguars have scored so far this season. Early reports are saying that the betting spread for that game could be the largest in NFL history. If there has ever been a time for Tim Tebow in a Jaguars uniform, it is now. Grade- D-
Houston Texans (2-2) – The Texans have had a wild rollercoaster first month of the 2013 season. The Texans could easily be 4-0, but could also be 0-4, if a few plays had went a bit differently. Houston’s defense is fierce, but has allowed at least 23 points in every game this season. Houston has played two overtime periods in four games, splitting each contest. It took a miracle comeback in week one for the Texans to defeat the San Diego Chargers, and quarterback Matt Schaub has thrown an interception that was returned for a touchdown in three consecutive games. Grade- C
Indianapolis Colts (3-1) – The Colts could easily be 4-0, if not for a sloppy loss against the Miami Dolphins. The Colts did not look very tight for the first two games of the season, but has been dominant on both sides of the ball recently. Indianapolis has not allowed a touchdown since the first quarter of week three, and has six different defensive players with at least one interception. The Colts have outscored their opponents 64-10 in their past two games. Grade- B+
Tennessee Titans (3-1) – The Titans have been one of the NFL’s biggest surprises so far this season. After a defensive 16-9 thrashing of the Pittsburgh Steelers in week one, the Titans fell short in overtime against the Texans. The Titans have held three of their four opponents under 20 points. The loss of QB-Jake Locker may be a stumbling block for a team that seemed to be on the rise, but defense can still win games. Grade- A