AFC South Week 8 Preview and Predictions

By Joanne Kong

Twitter: @kongfu4u 

HOUSTON TEXANS (4-3)

Detroit Lions @ Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are 4-0 at home and 0-3 away.  Perhaps this gives some hope to the Texans at home this Sunday against the Detroit Lions.  Because honestly, I’m not sure if there’s any other reason to be optimistic.

Coming off a spectacular loss to the Denver Broncos on Monday Night, the Texans have yet again proved how awful and terrible they are on offense.  Losing 27-9, Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler had only 131 yards and no passing touchdowns.  Osweiler is a fifth-year quarterback who has steadily declined throughout the season, showed inconsistency in his skills as a quarterback and seems to have reached his ceiling.  So, if you think I’m being too harsh, don’t cry for him too much, because his $72 million contract ($32 million guarantee) is keeping him warm at night.

The Lions, on the other hand, who are coming off a three-game win streak, are looking to carry that momentum to Houston.

Regardless of the opposite directions that these respective teams are heading, this Sunday’s match-up should (hopefully) be interesting.  The Texans offense is the worse in the league, and they’ll be defended by the worst defense in the league.  The Texans have the seventh best pass defense, and they will be facing a Lions team with the seventh-best passing offense in the league.

The ground game is something both these teams need to exploit if they want to be successful in week 8.  The Texans are known to be a rushing offense, but newly acquired Lamar Miller hasn’t put up the production the Texans need with just 581 rushing yards, 1 touchdown and obtaining only 21.9% of first downs on critical carries.

The Lions, on the other hand, are known to be a passing team with quarterback Matthew Stafford under center.  Although challenging against the Texans, a successful passing game is possible.  But the path of least resistance is on the ground.  In week 7, the Denver Broncos found success against the Texans run defense (which has allowed the 4th most rushing yards in the league) with 190 total rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.  With the return of rookie running back Dwayne Washington and the potential return of Theo Riddick, the Lions should look to utilize the ground game to pick apart this Texans defense.

#TBT ?s of #Lions – @HoustonTexans matchups through the years: https://t.co/ukNAtexE2V pic.twitter.com/xVxH7oDORQ

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 27, 2016

What can we expect in Week 8?

• Matthew Stafford has a rushing touchdown
• Golden Tate has a touchdown
• C.J. Fiedorowicz has a touchdown

The Detroit Lions win.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (3-4)

Kansas City Chiefs @ Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts needed the week 7 win against the Tennessee Titans to put pressure on the Houston Texans and keep the top position within the AFC South in sight.

The Kansas City Chiefs seemed to have found new life after being devastated by the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 4, currently with a two-game win streak since their week 5 bye-week.

In week 8, these two teams will face each other at Lucus Oil Stadium.

A highly offensive-based Colts team, led by quarterback Andrew Luck, will need to manage the ball and score quickly against the Chiefs defense.  The Colts have the sixth most offensive yards in the league, scoring 27.7 points per game this season.  Luck has passed for 2074 yards, 14 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, although he’s been sacked a whopping 25 times.  The Chiefs defense knows all about high offensive minded teams, handling the Oakland Raiders and the New Orleans Saints in weeks 6 and 7, respectively.  An average team in every respect on paper, the Chiefs defense has found a modicum of success, allowing an average of only 20.5 points per game.

As for the Chiefs offense, their also the epitome of mediocre, scoring an average of 22.7 points per game.  Alex Smith, who’s passed for 1511 yards, 7 touchdowns, with 2 interceptions and being sacked 14 times, has done just enough week to week to win.  After all, stats are nice, but a win is all that counts.  The Colts have the 4th worst defense in the league allowing 281.1 passing yards per game and 118.6 rushing yards per game.  The defense has surrendered a fourth quarter lead in five out of seven games this season.  Most recently, the Colts blew a 14-point lead against the Houston Texans in week 6, losing in overtime.

The bottom line is, although there are many ways the Colts can win, there are many ways they can lose as well.

What can we expect in Week 8?

• Spencer Ware has a touchdown.
• Jeremy Maclin has a touchdown.
• Frank Gore has a touchdown.

The Indianapolis Colts win.

TENNESSEE TITANS (3-4) & JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-4)

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans

Although this primetime Thursday Night showdown might not be between the two most exciting teams in the league, this game will have some meaning as they take the field in mustard yellow and powder blue uniforms (who in the world thought that “Color Rush” uniforms was a good idea?).

Surprisingly, the Jacksonville Jaguars are in last place in the AFC South, but only 1 game away from the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts.

The Jacksonville Jaguars:

The Jaguars are coming off a hard loss to the Oakland Raiders in week 7.  They’re looking to bounce back against division rivals to climb their way out of the basement, but is that likely?

Jaguars quarterback, Blake Bortles, has regressed significantly since the beginning of the season with as many interceptions as passing touchdowns (9) entering week 8, a completion percentage of only 59.7 and a passer rating of only 76.8.  Incomplete passes and a crumbling front line has made the Jaguars offense one of the worse at both passing and running the ball, even with the offseason addition of Chris Ivory.  And, the Jaguars top two receivers, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, have been significantly underperforming.  It’s no single player’s fault, the team in its entirety has been dismal this season after big expectations from the offseason.

"When it comes down to it nobody's trying to make mistakes." @BBortles5 thinks @Jaguars need to be better overall: https://t.co/FvzJIvaCeg pic.twitter.com/X3f4xzNaPh

— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2016

The Jaguars swiss cheese defense, who’s allowed an average of 27 points per game, who’s lost important defensive tackle Roy Miller (torn right Achilles) for the season, and who has rookie cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who’s temper got him thrown out of the game against the Raiders, will be looking to reset and step up their game against their division rivals.  On the other side of the ball, the Jaguars lackluster offense, who’s only positive performance was in London, is looking to jump start the team against a tough defense this Thursday night.  Thursday Night games have not been particularly interesting so far this season, and unfortunately, based on the matchup, I don’t anticipate this one being an exception.

The Tennessee Titans:

The Titans have seen some highs and lows this season.  After two great games, quarterback Marcus Mariota is still far from being a reliable franchise quarterback.  Making poor decisions at the most crucial moments and showing an inability to consistently protect the ball, Mariota seems to be having more problems this seasons with only flashes of brilliance.  Week 8 doesn’t look to be any easier.  Titans cornerback Perrish Cox (concussion) and safety Rashad Johnson (neck) will be out, crushing the Titans secondary and leaving opportunity for the Jaguars (if they can cash in — and that’s a BIG IF).  The Titans defense has totaled 20 sacks this season, and they’ll have to continue that output against Bortles and the Jaguars with the secondary decimated.  In addition, guard Quinton Spain will be out, leaving the Titans running game vulnerable.

Titans running back, DeMarco Murray, has breathed some new life into the Titans ground game.  Murray currently has the 3rd most rushing yards (633) in the league and 5 touchdowns.  We all know Murray can run behind a solid line (see, e.g., the Dallas Cowboys), and he’s doing just that with the substantial running lanes created by the Titans offensive front line.

Key matchups for tomorrow's game.. Paul Posluszny vs. DeMarco Murray. @EASPORTS pic.twitter.com/8mwAgsFz4j

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 27, 2016

What can we expect in Week 8?

• Marquise Lee has a touchdown
• Marcus Mariota rushes for a touchdown
• DeMarco Murray has no touchdowns

The Titan have had some problems winning at home.  The Jacksonville Jaguars win.