Category: AFC South News

AFC South standings: Titans fall to second place after Week 16

The Titans are no longer in first place in the AFC South going into Week 17.

The Tennessee Titans are officially in deep trouble after falling out of first place in the AFC South thanks to a Week 16 loss to the Houston Texans.

Tennessee’s once-comfortable lead is now completely gone thanks to their five-game losing streak, coupled with the Jacksonville Jaguars hitting their stride at the right time.

Jacksonville has won three straight and four of five after dropping the New York Jets, 19-3.

While these two teams have the same record, Jacksonville currently owns the head-to-head tie-breaker over Tennessee, which puts the Jags in first place for now.

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8)
  2. Tennessee Titans (7-8)
  3. Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1)
  4. Houston Texans (2-12-1)

Even if the Titans somehow beat the Dallas Cowboys and the Jaguars lose to the Texans in Week 17, Tennessee and Jacksonville will still be on a crash course for a winner-take-all Week 18 showdown in Duval.

As for the Colts, who were preseason favorites to win the AFC South, all they can do now is play spoiler for the final games of the season, as they’ve been officially eliminated from playoff contention.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Titans approach what is a meaningless Week 17 game in terms of playoff implications.

The Titans could definitely use a victory to stop their skid and gain a head of steam going into Week 18, but they also might want to play their key players sparingly in order to avoid anymore injuries.

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Where Titans stand in AFC South, playoff picture after Week 15

The Titans’ once-comfortable lead in the AFC South has dwindled down to one game.

The Tennessee Titans’ once-comfortable lead in the AFC South is now quite the opposite after suffering their fourth-straight loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

In tandem with that loss, the Jacksonville Jaguars pulled off a stunning win over the Dallas Cowboys in overtime after trailing 21-7 going into halftime.

Thanks, Cowboys.

With the Titans loss and Jaguars win, Jacksonville is now one game back of Tennessee thanks to having the head-to-head tie-breaker. These two teams meet once again in Week 18, by the way.

Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts failed to capitalize after allowing the Minnesota Vikings to pull off the biggest comeback in NFL history, surpassing the Houston Oilers’ 1992 playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Here’s a look at the division as a whole:

  1. Tennessee Titans (7-7)
  2. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8)
  3. Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1)
  4. Houston Texans (1-12-1)

While it isn’t certain yet, you can almost feel that this division is going to come down to Week 18, which was unfathomable just a few weeks ago.

In Week 16, the Titans draw a matchup with the Houston Texans, a team that sports the worst record in the NFL but has played well the last two weeks. The Jaguars will travel to take on the New York Jets.

Now, a look at the playoff picture.

Where Titans stand in AFC South, playoff picture going into Week 15

Despite their loss on Sunday, the Titans still have a 90 percent chance to make the playoffs and an 89 percent chance to win the AFC South.

It was a long afternoon for the Tennessee Titans on Sunday as they embarrassingly dropped their third consecutive game, losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 36-22.

The Titans failed to capitalize on a tremendous opportunity that would have essentially made it nearly impossible for any other AFC South team to catch them for the division crown.

Instead, the Titans let this game get away from them, giving the Jaguars and Colts the sliver of hope they needed going forward.

Following yesterday’s outcomes, the AFC South standings are as follows:

  1.  Tennessee Titans (7-6)
  2. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8)
  3. Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1)
  4. Houston Texans (1-11-1)

Despite the three-game skid, it would take a complete meltdown going forward for the Titans not to win their third straight division title.

Assuming the Colts lose at least one more game, the worst-case scenario for the Titans would be them losing their next three while the Jaguars win their next three, which would ultimately force a winner-take-all Week 18 showdown in Jacksonville.

All of that seems farfetched, but with the way this season is going, anything is possible.

As far as the rest of the conference goes, let’s take a closer look at where the Titans stand with four games left to play in the 2022 campaign.

Where Titans stand in AFC South, playoff picture going into Week 14

Despite their Week 13 loss, the Titans are still in command of the AFC South.

The Tennessee Titans dropped their second straight contest in Week 13 with an embarrassing 35-10 loss at the hands of A.J. Brown, Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Despite the loss, none of the Titans’ division rivals gained any ground, as the Indianapolis Colts lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 54-19, and the Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Detroit Lions, 40-14.

It goes without being said that the Houston Texans lost, also. Here’s an updated look at the AFC South standings going into Week 14:

  1. Tennessee Titans (7-5)
  2. Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1)
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8)
  4. Houston Texans (1-10-1)

The Titans have a much-needed get-right game in Week 14 when they host the Jaguars, a team they usually dominate. With a victory, Tennessee will officially knock Jacksonville out of contention for the division.

As far as the Colts are concerned, they’ll be on their bye in Week 14. The Titans’ magic number with Indy sits at two. And, last but least, the Texans, who are eliminated from AFC South and playoff contention, will visit the Cowboys.

Now, a look at where the Titans stand in the playoff picture:

Where Titans stand in AFC South, playoff picture entering Week 12

The Titans opened up their lead in the AFC South even more in Week 11.

The Tennessee Titans had an ideal Sunday off following their double-digit win over the Green Bay Packers last Thursday night. Both of the AFC South teams that were playing on Sunday ended up losing their respective games.

The Houston Texans lost to the Washington Commanders by a score of 23-10, while the Indianapolis Colts lost a one-point thriller to the Philadelphia Eagles, 17-16.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, on the other hand, were off on their much-needed bye this past week.

  1. Tennessee Titans (7-3)
  2. Indianapolis Colts (4-6-1)
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7)
  4. Houston Texans (1-8-1)

These outcomes, combined with the Titans’ recent road victory, have resulted in Tennessee extending its division lead over Indianapolis by a whopping 3.5 games.

This essentially translates into a four-game lead for the Titans with just seven games left due to them owning the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts.

The Titans’ magic number is now four, which means any combination of Titans wins and Colts losses that equals up to four clinches the division.

So, Tennessee could clinch the division title as early as Week 13 if it wins its next two and Indianapolis loses its next two.

Unfortunately, the Titans’ path to the No. 1 seed isn’t nearly as simple. Let’s see where things stand in the AFC playoff picture going into Week 12, and why Tennessee is currently slotted where it is.

Where Titans stand in AFC South, playoff picture going into Week 11

Where the Titans stand in the AFC playoff picture going into Week 11.

The Tennessee Titans once again found a way to win an ugly game in Week 10, defeating the Denver Broncos 17-10 at Nissan Stadium on Sunday.

With the victory, the Titans move to 6-3 and maintain their lead over the Indianapolis Colts, who beat the Las Vegas Raiders, 25-20.

Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars dropped to 3-7 after losing on the road to the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-17, and the Houston Texans dropped their fourth straight game with a 24-16 loss to the New York Giants on the road.

Here’s a look at where things stand in the AFC South going into Week 11:

  1. Tennessee Titans (6-3)
  2. Indianapolis Colts (4-5-1)
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7
  4. Houston Texans (1-7-1)

The Titans own a three-game lead over the Colts thanks to their having the head-to-head tie-breaker.

In Week 11, The Titans will hit the road to face the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. The Colts will host the Philadelphia Eagles, the Texans are home against the Washington Commanders, and the Jaguars are on a bye.

As far as the AFC playoff picture is concerned, the Titans moved up one spot after Sunday’s win. If the playoffs started today, they would play the (gulp) Buffalo Bills.

Here’s where things stand for now:

Where Titans stand in AFC South, playoff picture after Week 8

The Titans’ Week 9 game against the Chiefs will have serious playoff implications.

The Tennessee Titans improved their record to 5-2 on Sunday with a 17-10 win over the Houston Texans, which was also their fifth in a row.

With every other team in the division losing in Week 8, the Titans not only maintain their spot atop the division, they opened up their lead even more.

Here’s a look at the full standings for the AFC South:

  1. Tennessee Titans (5-2)
  2. Indianapolis Colts (3-4-1)
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)
  4. Houston Texans (1-5-1)

With the Titans opening up their lead in the AFC South, it’s time to start thinking about the conference playoff picture, where Tennessee is in good shape for the moment.

The Titans sit in the No. 2 seed in the conference and two games behind the Buffalo Bills (6-1), who also own the head-to-head tie-breaker after a 41-7 victory over Tennessee in Week 2.

Right behind the Titans in the conference is the Kansas City Chiefs (5-2), who just so happen to be Tennessee’s opponent in Week 9.

The winner of Sunday night’s contest will have sole possession of the No. 2 seed for now. Kansas City also lost to the Bills this season, so Buffalo is safe in the top spot for at least another week.

In Week 9, the Colts will hit the road to face the New England Patriots, the Texans will host the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jaguars will welcome the Las Vegas Raiders to Duval.

Now, here’s a look at the complete AFC playoff picture after Sunday’s action.

Titans appear to have ended the Matt Ryan era in Indianapolis

The Titans appear to have put the final nail in the coffin of the Matt Ryan era in Indianapolis.

For the time being, it appears the Tennessee Titans have put the final nail in the coffin of the possibly short-lived Matt Ryan era in Indianapolis.

On Monday, Colts head coach Frank Reich announced that 2021 sixth-round pick Sam Ehlinger would be taking over the starting duties under center for Indianapolis for the rest of the season.

Reich did reveal that Ryan is dealing with a shoulder injury, but also noted that the move would have come even if the veteran signal-caller was healthy enough to play.

What makes this move more shocking is the fact that Ryan just had his best game of the season in Week 6 before getting ransacked by the Titans in Week 7 en route to a two-turnover performance.

Adding to that, it’s not like he’s had much help around him, as his offensive line and rushing attack have been putrid, offering zero support.

Should the Colts part ways with Ryan by cutting him next offseason, they would be on the hook for a whopping $18 million in dead cap money, per Over the Cap.

Ryan is just the latest signal-caller to fail for the Colts in the wake of the shocking Andrew Luck retirement in 2019, following the failed stints of Jacoby Brissett (2019), Philip Rivers (2020) and Carson Wentz (2021).

Brissett, Rivers, Wentz and Ryan were a combined 2-6 against the Titans, who have now reeled off four consecutive wins and a pair of season sweeps the last two years against their division rival.

And, with the win, the Titans grabbed a stranglehold of the AFC South lead thanks to their owning the head-to-head tie-breaker over Indy, putting them on track for a third consecutive division title.

For years the Colts were the superior franchise and owned the Titans in every way possible. It’s nice to see a role reversal for a change as the Colts continue to look for answers at the quarterback position.

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AFC South standings: Titans grab control after Week 7 win vs. Colts

The Titans grabbed control of the AFC South with a Week 7 win over the Colts.

After a disastrous 0-2 start to the season, the Tennessee Titans now find themselves with a 4-2 record following their 19-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7.

This win gives the Titans some breathing room atop the division on a day where they were the only AFC South team to record a victory on Sunday.

The current AFC South standings are as follows:

  • 1st: Titans (4-2)
  • 2nd: Colts (3-3-1)
  • 3rd: Jaguars (2-5)
  • 4th: Texans (1-4-1)

On top of having the better record, Tennessee once again has the much-coveted head-to-head tiebreaker over Indianapolis. The Colts now have to finish with a better record than the Titans in order to win the division.

Tennessee has won both of its divisional games so far this season, with another one against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium looming this week.

Meanwhile, the Colts will host the Washington Commanders and the Jacksonville Jaguars will be at home versus the Denver Broncos.

As far as the entire conference goes, the Titans would be the No. 3 seed if the regular season were to end today, and they would draw a first-round matchup against the Miami Dolphins.

Tennessee currently has the fourth-best record in the conference, with the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and New York Jets all sitting with five wins after seven weeks.

Truthfully, Tennessee has a lot of work to do before they can start thinking about the playoffs, but it’s always good to be inside the current playoff picture than to be outside of it.

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AFC South standings: Where Titans stand coming out of the bye

A look at the AFC South standings after the Titans were idle in Week 6.

Now that the majority of the Week 6 slate is in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take a closer look at how things are shaping up within the division and where the Tennessee Titans stand going into Week 7.

The AFC South currently sits as follows:

  • 1st: Tennessee Titans (3-2)
  • 2nd: Indianapolis Colts (3-2-1)
  • 3rd: Jacksonville Jaguars (2-4)
  • 4th: Houston Texans (1-3-1)

Both the Titans and the Texans were idle this past weekend and saw no movement in their overall positions.

Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars played each other Sunday, resulting in a Colts victory that created some separation between the two in the standings.

This victory gave the Colts their third of the season, while the Jags plummet to 2-4 after dropping their third straight contest.

The Titans and Colts now have three wins and two losses each; however, Tennessee currently holds the tiebreaker for a few reasons.

For starters, Indy has a tie on its record, resulting in a slightly lower win percentage (.583) than the Titans’ (.600). Secondly, Tennessee won the first matchup between the two AFC South foes, giving them the initial head-to-head tiebreaker even if both squads had completely identical records.

The Titans and Colts are set to square off for the second time this week after Tennessee won the first matchup, 24-17. The winner of Sunday’s game will not only have sole possession of first place in the division, but a win could also help with any tiebreaker situations down the line.

For the Titans, a victory on Sunday would officially secure the head-to-head tiebreaker over Indy for the remainder of the 2022 season, in which case the Colts would have to finish with a better record than the Titans in order to surpass them in the standings.

If the Colts win, they move into first place for now and would erase the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage the Titans have. In that case, any tiebreaker would come down to divisional record.

This weekend will likely go a long way toward deciding who will eventually claim divisional superiority in the AFC South.

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