AFC South Week 10 Recap
The AFC South is a two-horse race with the Titans and Jaguars leading the pack. Both stay atop the division with wins this week, while the Texans and Colts continue to slide without their respective starting quarterbacks.
Tennessee Titans 6-3*
Jacksonville Jaguars 6-3
Houston Texans 3-6
Indianapolis Colts 3-7
*Tennessee has the tiebreaker over Jacksonville because of the head to head victory.
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Tennessee Titans
The Titans were able to get a comeback victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, 24-20 to extend their winning streak to four.
What they did well
Marcus Mariota and the Titans’ offense had no problem moving the football against the Bengals, racking up 416 total yards. The ‘Exotic Smashmouth’ offense held the ball for a little over 40 minutes of the game. DeMarco Murray announced he is back with a three-touchdown performance, including fighting through multiple defenders for the game-winner. The defense, led by safety Kevin Byard and linebacker Wesley Woodyard, held the Bengals to only one drive over six plays long; By contrast, the Titans had six drives over six drives. The Tennessee rush defense continues to be one of the league’s best, holding the Bengals to 53 rushing yards. Derrick Morgan also made his presence felt with two fumble recoveries.
Where they need improvement
This game was close only because of big mistakes on big plays by the Titans. Rishard Matthews, who had a solid game otherwise, dropped a sure touchdown. Three plays later Ryan Succop missed a 48-yard field goal, ending a streak of 56 consecutive field goals inside of 50 yards. Rookie wide receiver Corey Davis added to the missed opportunities with a fumble near the end zone that resulted in a touchback. The other side of the football was plagued with the same problem. Broken coverages led to 37 and 70-yard touchdowns to Brandon LaFell and A.J. Green. This game could have easily been a blowout victory without these mistakes.
What is next
The Titans head to the Steel City for a Thursday night match-up with the AFC leading Steelers.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars narrowly escape defeat with a 20-17 overtime win over the Los Angeles Chargers for their third straight win.
What they did well
Jacksonville’s elite defense continues to impress. Not only did they hold Philip Rivers to a very average game, but they also only allowed 2.9 yards per attempt on the ground. Also, they have won every game this season when they hold their opponent under 20 points. The offense had its struggles but came up with the big plays needed to win this game, including a 56-yard sprint to the end zone by the blazingly fast Corey Grant. But perhaps the most important aspect of this game was the Jaguars ability to give up no points after turnovers. In Jacksonville’s loses they have averaged 7.6 points a game off of turnovers.
Where they needed improvement
Speaking of the running game, Leonard Fournette was put on a milk carton by the Chargers defense. The rookie phenom was held to less than 2 yards a carry and 76% of his carries went for less than two yards. Blake Bortles overall game was not that bad; however, he did throw two interceptions that could have been costly if the defense did not step up.
What is next
The Jaguars head to Cleveland to take on the winless Browns.
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Houston Texans
The Texans continue to feel the loss of standout rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson, as they suffer a 33 to 7 beatdown by the LA Rams.
What they did well
The first half was a solid performance overall for the Texans. The defense held the NFL’s most productive offense to three field goals and plenty of short drives. Meanwhile, Tom Savage managed to hit Bruce Ellington for the first half’s only touchdown.
Where they needed improvement
Most analysts thought that Watson’s injury was the end of Houston’s season. They were right. Savage proved he is not the answer after an abysmal performance (50% completion percentage and two interceptions). His counterpart, Jared Goff, had a fantastic day against a Houston defense that is missing several key pieces (J.J. Watt, Brian Cushing, and Whitney Mercilus). His 355 yards and three-touchdown explosion in the second half led the blowout. The Texans also struggled to stop the running game. The two-headed monster of Todd Gurley and Lance Dunbar both rushed for 6.2 yards per carry with a combined 16 carries.
What is next
The Texans head back to Houston to host the 4-5 Arizona Cardinals.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts were nearly on their first winning streak since November of last season, but a late field goal lifted the Steelers over the Colts, 20 to 17.
What they did well
The Colts came into this game as 10-point underdogs. They were in the lead or tied until the last play of the game. Jacoby Brissett threw for two touchdowns, both going for over 60 yards. All things considered, Brissett played a solid game. He had a clear favorite target, and it was not T.Y. Hilton. Second-year pass catcher Chester Rogers caught all six of his targets for his first 100-yard game. The defense did a great job of limiting the stars on Pittsburgh’s offense, as well. Le’Veon Bell continues one of his least productive years with a 3.1 average against Indianapolis. The Colts also held Antonio Brown to three catches for 47 yards on seven targets. The Steelers were held to less than 20 yards per drive on 58% of their drives.
Where they need improvement
Brissett’s only glaring mistake in this game was a costly one. The opportunistic Ryan Shazier intercepted Brissett to set the Steelers on the Colt’s 10-yard line. Three plays later the Steelers tied the game. This play will haunt the young QB, but it might not have happened if he had some help. The Colts, as a team, rushed for 71 yards at 2.4 yards a clip. The defense did a stand-up job for most of the game but did get torched on the final drive. If they had finished off the game stronger, we might be looking at a different outcome.
What is next
The Colts head into their bye week before hosting the Titans in week 12.
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