2019 NFL Preseason Rankings: AFC South Power Rankings

2019 NFL Preseason Rankings – AFC South Power Rankings: The division previews roll on ahead of the 2019 NFL season, and it’s time to head over to the AFC. I’ll start with the AFC North, a division that was supposed to be led by an Indianapolis Colts squad being picked by many to make a Super Bowl run. Well, that changed in a big way when quarterback Andrew Luck shocked the football world by announcing his retirement during the third week of the preseason. Without the MVP candidate leading the way, the trajectory for the Colts shifts dramatically, and the pecking order in the division shuffles up, as well.

2019 NFL Preseason Rankings: AFC South Power Rankings

1. Houston Texans

With Andrew Luck opting to retire, the Texans should be in the driver’s seat in the AFC South. Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins are one of the most lethal quarterback-receiver tandems in recent memory, and big-play specialist Will Fuller will be back in the mix, as well. Houston upgraded the offensive line in the draft, and I actually think the running game will improve following the trade for the versatile Duke Johnson to replace the injured Lamar Miller. J.J. Watt isn’t the dominant force he once was, but he was still good enough to lead the fifth-ranked scoring defense last year. Watson has the ability to take the Texans to another level, and even if he just has a typical year, they should win the AFC South.

2. Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck’s retirement kills any Super Bowl aspirations the Colts may have had, but the roster as a whole remains solid. The last couple of draft classes have yielded studs like offensive guard Quenton Nelson and linebacker Darius Leonard, and quarterback Jacoby Brissett has shown the ability to be a capable starter when forced into action. Indianapolis made a couple of big signings in free agency that should only help the cause, and even without Luck, the Colts are capable of being a competitive team that wins eight to nine games.

3. Tennessee Titans

The Titans won nine games a year ago, riding the third-best scoring defense and a late-season surge from running back Derrick Henry. On paper, they look even better in 2019 after upgrading the weapons around quarterback Marcus Mariota in free agency (Adam Humphries) and the draft (A.J. Brown). However, it doesn’t how many weapons they surround Mariota with if he can’t get the ball to them consistently. The former No. 2 overall pick has regressed by many measures, and he has shown no signs of being anything more than a below average quarterback. I actually think Tennessee could be better off going with backup Ryan Tannehill, but if the Titans do pull the plug on Mariota, I think it will be after the season goes off the rails. At best, this is a .500 team.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

A year after reaching the AFC Championship Game, the Jaguars crumbled under the hype last year. Granted, the defense was still one of the nastiest units in the league, but the offense was anemic, averaging the second-fewest points per game. Jacksonville bailed on quarterback Blake Bortles in the offseason, paying big money to bring in Nick Foles. Yes, it is an upgrade, but while the surprise Super Bowl MVP has obviously had his moments, he’s never flourished as a full-time starter. The offensive line looks better on paper, but running back Leonard Fournette can’t seem to shake the injury bug, and who is catching the ball on this team outside of Dede Westbrook? The Jaguars should be better than they were last season, but I still think they are battling to stay out of the basement and not for an AFC South crown.

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