2026 AFC South Preview: Game-by-Game Predictions
1. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-5)
With a few critical swings in the win column including sweeping the season finale and picking up a massive late-season win in Dallas the Jaguars pull off the heist and steal the AFC South crown from Houston. It all hinges on Trevor Lawrence taking that next definitive step toward MVP contention. With explosive weapons like Brian Thomas Jr. and Christian Kirk pushing the field vertically, and edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker terrorizing opposing quarterbacks, Jacksonville has the talent to go toe-to-toe with anyone.
Week 1: vs. Cleveland Browns — W (1-0)
Week 2: at Denver Broncos — L (1-1)
Week 3: vs. New England Patriots — W (2-1)
Week 4: at Cincinnati Bengals — L (2-2)
Week 5: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (London) — L (2-3)
Week 6: vs. Houston Texans (London) — W (3-3)
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: vs. Indianapolis Colts — W (4-3)
Week 9: at Baltimore Ravens — L (4-4)
Week 10: at Tennessee Titans — W (5-4)
Week 11: at New York Giants — W (6-4)
Week 12: vs. Tennessee Titans — W (7-4)
Week 13: at Chicago Bears — W (8-4)
Week 14: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers — W (9-4)
Week 15: at Houston Texans — L (9-5)
Week 16: at Dallas Cowboys — W (10-5)
Week 17: at Washington Commanders — W (11-5)
Week 18: at Indianapolis Colts — W (12-5)
2. Houston Texans (11-6)
A tough Week 1 stumble out of the gate against Buffalo puts the Texans behind the 8-ball early. While C.J. Stroud remains a powerhouse distributing the ball to Nico Collins and Tank Dell, that early slip ultimately costs them the tiebreaker for the division title. Defensively, Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter will keep them in every game, sending Houston into the playoffs as an incredibly dangerous Wild Card team that nobody wants to see in January.
Week 1: vs. Buffalo Bills — L (0-1)
Week 2: vs. Cincinnati Bengals — L (0-2)
Week 3: at Indianapolis Colts — W (1-2)
Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys — W (2-2)
Week 5: at Tennessee Titans — W (3-2)
Week 6: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (London) — L (3-3)
Week 7: vs. New York Giants — W (4-3)
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: at Los Angeles Chargers — W (5-3)
Week 10: at Cleveland Browns — W (6-3)
Week 11: vs. Indianapolis Colts — W (7-3)
Week 12: vs. Baltimore Ravens — L (7-4)
Week 13: at Pittsburgh Steelers — L (7-5)
Week 14: at Washington Commanders — W (8-5)
Week 15: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars — W (9-5)
Week 16: at Philadelphia Eagles — L (9-6)
Week 17: at Green Bay Packers — W (10-6)
Week 18: vs. Tennessee Titans — W (11-6)
3. Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
The roller coaster continues in Indy. The entire season hinges on the health of Daniel "Danny Dimes" Jones, who had the Colts off to a blazing 8-2 start last year before tearing his Achilles. Jones is expected to be ready for Week 1, and with Jonathan Taylor in the backfield and emerging tight end Tyler Warren serving as a reliable target, the offense has teeth. Defensively, DeForest Buckner anchors the front, but dropping a winnable home game to Dallas and falling in the Week 18 finale to Jacksonville keeps them just outside the playoff picture at 8-9.
Week 1: vs. Baltimore Ravens — L (0-1)
Week 2: at Kansas City Chiefs — L (0-2)
Week 3: vs. Houston Texans — L (0-3)
Week 4: at Washington Commanders (London) — W (1-3)
Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers — W (2-3)
Week 6: vs. Tennessee Titans — W (3-3)
Week 7: at Minnesota Vikings — W (4-3)
Week 8: at Jacksonville Jaguars — L (4-4)
Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys — L (4-5)
Week 10: vs. Miami Dolphins — W (5-5)
Week 11: at Houston Texans — L (5-6)
Week 12: vs. New York Giants — W (6-6)
Week 13: BYE
Week 14: at Philadelphia Eagles — L (6-7)
Week 15: at Tennessee Titans — W (7-7)
Week 16: vs. Cincinnati Bengals — L (7-8)
Week 17: at Cleveland Browns — W (8-8)
Week 18: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars — L (8-9)
4. Tennessee Titans (5-12)
No changes to the script in Nashville. The Titans find themselves outmatched in a highly competitive division, spending the year focusing on draft positioning and evaluating their young core. It's a make-or-break year for Will Levis under center to prove he is the franchise guy. While Calvin Ridley provides a veteran spark on offense, and studs like Jeffery Simmons and L'Jarius Sneed lead the defense, the roster lacks the depth to hang with the heavyweights over a grueling 17-game slate.
Week 1: vs. New York Jets — L (0-1)
Week 2: vs. Philadelphia Eagles — L (0-2)
Week 3: at New York Giants — W (1-2)
Week 4: at Baltimore Ravens — L (1-3)
Week 5: vs. Houston Texans — L (1-4)
Week 6: at Indianapolis Colts — L (1-5)
Week 7: vs. Cleveland Browns — W (2-5)
Week 8: at Cincinnati Bengals — L (2-6)
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars — L (2-7)
Week 11: at Dallas Cowboys — L (2-8)
Week 12: at Jacksonville Jaguars — L (2-9)
Week 13: vs. Washington Commanders — W (3-9)
Week 14: at Detroit Lions — L (3-10)
Week 15: vs. Indianapolis Colts — L (3-11)
Week 16: at Las Vegas Raiders — W (4-11)
Week 17: at Pittsburgh Steelers — W (5-11)
Week 18: at Houston Texans — L (5-12)
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