AFC South Review: Week 3

By Joanne Kong

Twitter: @kongfu4u  AFC South

Week 3 was a week for running back superstars.  Atlanta Falcons Devonta Freeman rushed for 141 yards and 3 TDs.  Oakland Raiders Latavius Murry rushed for 139 yards and 1 TD.  Minnesota Vikings Adrian Peterson rushed for 126 yards and 2 TDs.  Joseph Randle and LeGarrette Blount had 3 TDs…the list goes on and on.  9 out of 10 teams with a top 10 rushing leader won in week 3.  Coincidence?  Probably.  But the numbers can’t be disputed.  Old school smash mouth football is making a come back as teams discover that having a competent North-South ground game is required for consistency.  But whether a team scores by passing or rushing, we all know that every team needs to score to win.

And how did this barrage of running back superstars effect the AFC South?  Well, let’s take a look at three takeaways from each AFC South matchup in week 3.

Indianapolis Colts (1-2)

Indianapolis Colts (35) @ Tennessee Titans (33)

1Will the real Andrew Luck please stand up?

Andrew Luck looked clumsy and subpar for the first three quarters of the game, Frank Gore scoring the only TD in the first quarter.  Luck appeared disheveled as frustration set after each incomplete pass.  His lack of ability to move the ball downfield was evident as the fourth quarter began, foreshadowing a 0-3 start.  But, in the last twelve minutes of the game, the shroud must have lifted, as 2014 Andrew Luck decided to show up, throwing two passing TDs to Phillip Dorsett and Donte Moncrief and engineering a drive that resulted in another rushing TD for Frank Gore.  Is the shroud permanently lifted for the remainder of the season?  Colts fans better hope so since the team is entirely dependent on which Luck shows up.

2The win wouldn’t have been possible without defensive player Dwight Lowery. 

Lowery returned an interception 69 yards for a TD in the second quarter and added an interception during the fourth quarter, placing the ball at the 11 yard line, resulting in a TD that would give the Colts the lead, and ultimately, the win.

3The Colts have a strong receiving core.

If Luck can throw the ball, these three can definitely catch the ball.  T.Y. Hilton is back on the field with an average 23.7 yards per catch.  In his fourth season, Hilton has been an indispensable part of the offense and one of Luck’s favorite down field targets.  Second year veteran Donte Moncrief has also been a crucial part of the Colts offense during the first three games of the season.  Moncrief is often a quick screen option, but gains valuable yards to move the chains, and week 3 was no different.  Moncrief has caught 2 TDs this season, even with Luck at his worst.  Rookie Phillip Dorsett has been a great 3rd option for Luck.  Dorsett has the good run-after-catch ability averaging 21 yards per catch in week 3.

Tennessee Titans (1-2)

Indianapolis Colts (35) @ Tennessee Titans (33)

1The offensive line is good.

The Titans had a great looking offensive line for week 3.  Marcus Mariota got the protection he needed to make smarter decisions in the pocket, something he didn’t have in week 2.

Mariota threw for 367 yards and connected with Kendell Wright and Dorial Green- Beckham for 2 passing TDs.

2There’s still work to do. 

Mariota completed only 27 of 44 pass attempts, with 2 interceptions and taking 3 sacks for a loss of 22 yards.  The Colts defense was fast and often broke through the pocket, forcing Mariota to scramble.  Mariota might be quick on his feet out of the pocket, but it often prevents him from seeing open receivers down field, leading to incomplete passes and missed opportunities.

3The defense gave up too soon.

The Titans defense held the Colts for over three quarters of the game, allowing only 7 points.  What happened in the fourth quarter?  I watched the game and I still can’t explain it.  Suddenly, the Titans defense didn’t know how to hold coverage, allowing Andrew Luck and the Colts to march the ball downfield for 2 passing TDs and 1 rushing TD in the span of 12 minutes to win the game.

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2)

Jacksonville Jaguars (17) @ New England Patriots (51)

1The Jacksonville Jaguars managed to somewhat “stifle” the Patriots passing game.

The final score might not reflect it, but although the Jaguars allowed plenty of receiving yards, they did a good job of keeping Rob Gronkowski (101 receiving yards) and Juilian Edelman (85 receiving yards) out of the end zone (the Patriots top scorers in the past two weeks).  Brady, who passed for 466 yards in week 2, passed for “only” 358 yards in week 3.  Of course, Brady couldn’t have moved the ball downfield without his receivers, but in Sunday’s game against the Jaguars, the Patriots had 32 rushing attempts for 125 rushing yards and 3 rushing TD, compared to week 2 – 15 rushing attempts for 56 yards and 1 rushing TD by Dion Lewis. Part of this might have been in the Bill Belichick gameplan, but I think the Jaguars defense is mostly underrated.

The two passing TDs were to Danny Amendola (first TD for the season) and 4th year veteran, Keshawn Martin (first TD of the season and with the Patriots), who was previously Houston Texan.

2The same Blake Bortles, but a different outcome.

In week 2, Blake Bortles passed for 273 yards, completing 18 of 33 pass attempts and throwing for 2 TDs.  Allen Robinson had a 155 receiving yards and 2 TDs.  Allen Hurns caught 4 of 4 for 68 yards.

In week 3, Bortles passed for 242 yards, completed 17 of 33 passing attempts and threw for 2 TDs.  Although Allen Robinson was well covered by the Patriots defense, Hurns caught 2 of 4 for 70 yards and a TD.

What was the difference?  The Patriots stopped the Jaguars running game.  In week 2, the Jaguars had 33 rushing attempts, and T.J. Yeldon had 70 rushing yards.  In week 3, the Jaguars had 20 rushing attempts, and T.J. Yeldon had only 11 carries for 33 yards.  The ground game isn’t terribly effective, but has allowed a more balanced attack that also helps control game pace.

Not that the extra yards would have mattered since the Patriots scored 51 points.

3The Jaguars should have made that deal with the Devil to beat the Patriots. 

Or maybe, the Jaguars should have been more careful, since the Devil isn’t known to keep his promises.

Houston Texans (1-2)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9) @ Houston Texans (19)

1Ryan Mallett is still the best quarterback for the Houston Texans.

Mallett might be the best option for the Texans, but that doesn’t equate to a winning season.  Mallett has had consistent stats for his starts in week 2 and 3, one which ended in a loss and the other in a win.  In week 2, Mallett rushed for a TD.  In week 3, Blue had a rushing TD.  In week 2, Mallett completed 27 of 58 pass attempts for 244 yards, 1 TD, 1 interception and took 1 sack for a loss of 5 yards.  In week 3, Mallett completed 24 of 39 pass attempts for 228 yards, 1 TD, 1 interception and took 1 sack for a loss of 1 yard.

Mallett’s consistency is good for the Texans as it gives them a chance to win every week.  But he’ll need more than that in week 4 against the surging 3-0 Atlanta Falcons to pull off a win.

2Do the Texans have a running game without Arian Foster?

The Texans running game looked bleak in week 1 and 2.  In week 2, the Texans had 23 rushing attempts for 61 yards and Blue had 5 carries for 6 yards.  In week 3, the Texans had 46 rushing attempts for 186 rushing yards, and Blue had 31 carries for 139 yards and a TD.  In week 4, the Texans play the Atlanta Falcons.  Blue will need to prove week 3 wasn’t a fluke and help move the ball down field if they hope to have any chance of being 2-2.

3The Texans couldn’t have won without Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Kyle Brindza.

It’s probably hard for the Texans to admit, but the win in week 3 was not just due to the Texans ability to move the ball downfield (228 passing yards and 186 rushing yards).  It was because the Buccaneers kicker, Brindza, missed 10 points (1/4 FG and 0/1 XP).  Head coach Bill O’Brien should send Brindza a fruit basket, thanking him.