Queen Media Sports Report: Predicting the AFC South
Get comfortable, AFC South fans. The 2026 season is almost here, and if you follow this division, you know it’s going to be a wild ride.
This year, the division is all about extremes. Some teams are strong contenders fighting for a home playoff game, while others will need plenty of patience from their fans by November. I’ve looked at the stats, offseason changes, and imagined every game.
Here is the honest, unvarnished truth about how the AFC South is going to shake out this year.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Projected Record: 11 - 6 (2025 Record: 13 - 4, 1st in AFC South)
The Offseason Buzz: Look, the Jaguars know exactly who they are. Coming off a gorgeous 13 win campaign that saw them snatch the division crown, they didn't get arrogant. Instead of chasing the flashy, headline grabbing free agents, the front office put their heads down and did the dirty work of building depth. Picking up offensive lineman Geron Christian and cornerback Corey Ballentine late in the summer? Those are the gritty, under the radar moves that save your bacon in December when the injury bug bites.
The Queen Media Takeaway: I am not going to sugarcoat it, dropping down to 11 wins might feel like a slight letdown after last year’s blistering pace. There is a late season stumble in our projections that will absolutely have sports talk radio in Duval County hitting the panic button. But take a deep breath, Jags fans. Your squad is built to absorb a few punches without getting knocked out. They have the stability to avoid those soul crushing losing streaks, which gives them more than enough breathing room to clinch the division and host a playoff game.
2. Houston Texans
Projected Record: 10 - 7 (2025 Record: 12 - 5, 2nd in AFC South)
The Offseason Buzz: If there is an award for the most ambitious front office, Houston takes the cake. They are obsessed with building a Super Bowl roster, and frankly, I love the energy. After a fantastic 12 win run last year, they paid their foundational guys, locking down Will Anderson Jr. and Azeez Al-Shaair. Then they went shopping. Bringing Jadeveon Clowney back home, beefing up the trenches with Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith, and rolling the dice on Juwann Winfree shows a team that is absolutely going for broke.
The Queen Media Takeaway: Texans fans, check your blood pressure medication, because the beginning of the year is going to test your nerves. The projections have Houston stumbling out of the gates and digging themselves into an early hole. It is going to take a minute for all these new pieces to gel. But do not jump ship. This roster is too talented to stay down. I expect them to catch fire down the stretch, riding an undefeated wave over the final three weeks to force their way right into the Wild Card picture.
3. Indianapolis Colts
Projected Record: 8 - 9 (2025 Record: 8 - 9, 3rd in AFC South)
The Offseason Buzz: Has any fanbase had a more exhausting offseason than Indianapolis? My head is still spinning. They pulled off an absolute blockbuster to get superstar corner Sauce Gardner, pairing him with Cam Taylor-Britt to give opposing quarterbacks nightmares. But the offense? That is where things get wild. Trading away Michael Pittman Jr., handing Alec Pierce a jaw dropping $114 million mega extension, and betting $88 million over two years on Daniel Jones to run the offense is a massive gamble.
The Queen Media Takeaway: It breaks my heart to say this, but it really feels like Groundhog Day in Indy. You finish 8 and 9, you flip the roster upside down, and our models have you landing right back at 8 and 9. Consistency is going to be your biggest enemy. You are going to see weeks where the Colts look like world beaters, followed immediately by letdowns that will have you screaming at your television. Without the ability to string together a meaningful win streak, it looks like another year of watching the playoffs from the couch.
4. Tennessee Titans
Projected Record: 3 - 14 (2025 Record: 3 - 14, 4th in AFC South)
The Offseason Buzz: The Titans are a team desperately searching for a pulse after hitting rock bottom last year. You have to give them credit for trying to plug the holes. Bringing in Hendon Hooker to stir the pot at quarterback, adding Michael Carter to the backfield, and grabbing K.J. Osborn and Lance McCutcheon gives them some new toys. Defensively, Tony Adams and Mohamoud Diabate are here to try and stop the bleeding.
The Queen Media Takeaway: I want to give you hope, Tennessee, I really do. But as a journalist, I owe you the truth: this is going to be a brutally long year. The rebuild is in full effect, and just like last year, this squad is going to be outmatched on most Sundays. Between an early skid and an agonizingly long slide in the middle of the calendar, you are going to be talking about the number one overall draft pick by Halloween. Hang in there, take care of yourselves, and remember that every great dynasty has to start from the bottom.
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Cody Queen is the lead columnist for the Queen Media Sports Report, bringing you the hard hitting facts, the deep dives, and the unapologetic truth about the teams you love. Queen Media Sports Report is brought to you by Backwater Royalty.
