2013 Season Predictions: AFC South

The AFC South could make for an interesting showdown this year, as the Colts, who surprised everyone last year by winning 11 games and making the playoffs, try to show that last year was no fluke and attempt to regain the stranglehold on this division they once had during the Peyton Manning era. Meanwhile the Texans will try to forget last year's disappointing finish and work to prove to the world they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. At the lower end of the division, the Titans hope they can take the next step to avoid being trapped in NFL purgatory, while the Jaguar's lack of overall talent will likely have them competing in the Clowney sweepstakes.

1. Houston Texans : 12-4 (2012 Season : 12-4)
The Texans have won a playoff game each of the last two years but you'd be hard pressed to find someone on the Super Bowl bandwagon either of those years come playoff time. This team will try to prove they are one of the elite now that they are finally starting to get healthy on defense with star linebacker Brain Cushing returning and they have potentially found a new weapon in the passing game with 1st round pick wide receiver Deandre Hopkins. Safety Ed Reed brings some championship experience to this club from his time with the Ravens, but is that going to be enough to push this team over the hump? Quarterback Matt Schaub needs to prove he can hang with the big boys in January and this defense is going to need to stay on the field if they want to grab a ring before their short championship window closes.

2. Indianapolis Colts : 9-7 (2012 Season: 11-5)
The Colts are the rare team where their record might go down but their roster quality might go up. The Colts were extremely fortunate to win as many games as they did last season, actually being outscored by their opponents over the course of the season. However, Andrew Luck proved why he was such a hot prospect coming out of college by leading multiple game-winning drives and making sure the Colts went 9-0 in games decided by a touchdown or less. While that may not happen this year, Luck is primed to take a big step forward this year and start putting his name in the discussion for the game's elite quarterbacks. Being reunited with his old college offensive coordinator, Pep Hamilton, should do wonders to help him raise his completion percentage while lowering his turnovers, as long as his o-line is able to give him time to throw. The defense is still a question mark, but Chuck Pagano's leadership should at least keep this unit from being in the cellar of the NFL, which should be enough for Luck to lead Indy to a second consecutive winning season.

3. Tennessee Titans: 7-9 (2012 Season: 6-10)
A rebuilt interior line and a re-emphasis on the running game will help the Titans improve slightly this season, but it still might not be good enough to save the jobs of Head Coach Mike Munchak and quarterback Jake Locker. Though CJ2K looks like he's ready to elevate his game where it once used to be, the question marks surrounding Locker prevent this offense being looked at as a consistent unit. Locker's spotty accuracy and decision making have the potential to be drive-killers, and this defense isn't going to be able to pick up the slack. The secondary in particular looks to be one of the weaker groups in the league, and if teams exploit that and get an early lead on the Titans it seems questionable at best that Locker will be able to play effective catch-up.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-13 (2012 Season: 2-14)
New coach Gus Bradley was handed an unenviable situation to deal with in Jacksonville, and while his team has a few bright spots, ultimately it lacks talent at key position groups and depth pretty much across the board. The Jaguars do have some intriguing pieces on offense with a young receiving corps in Justin Blackmon, Cecil Shorts III and intriguing rookie Ace Sanders, as well as a possibly healthy MJD returning to run the ball for them. Their bookends on offense are solid in Eugene Monroe and 2nd overall pick Luke Joeckel, and new general manager David Caldwell added plenty of young talent in the secondary through the draft. However, with Gabbert and Henne as your two main options at quarterback and no pass rush to speak of on defense there's only so far this team is going to be able to go. It's going to be another long season for the Jaguars, here's hoping new "OW" Denard Robinson provides some semblance of excitement.