AFC South Week 15 Preview and Predictions

By Joanne Kong

Twitter: @kongfu4u  AFC South Week 15

HOUSTON TEXANS (7-6) & JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-11)

Jacksonville JaguarsHouston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans

  • The Texans need a win to control the AFC South.

After a 3-game losing streak, the Houston Texans got a must-win in week 14 against the Indianapolis Colts on the road.

In week 15, the Houston Texans will host the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars, who are currently last in the division.  The Texans are in another must-win situation.  But, as long as Brock Osweiler can stay up-right and prevent turnovers, this should be a no-brainer win for the struggling Texans offense.

The Texans will be without one of Osweiler’s favorite targets, tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz.

Texans running back, Lamar Miller, who suffered from an ankle and rib injury, should start against the Jaguars even though he was limited in practice this week.

And, that’s good news for the Texans.  Miller has been an asset to the Texans offense and the team would most likely be lost without him.

The Houston defense has been solid this season, even with the loss of defensive end, J.J. Watt.  Players like linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, Vince Wilfork and Brian Cushing, safety Quintin Demps  and defensive end Whitney Mercilus (although out this week), have held the Texans defensive line and broken up the pass play.

  • The banged-up Jacksonville Jaguars

There’s not much to say that hasn’t already been said about this Jaguars team.  With three games left in the season, the Jaguars need to assess why they’ve failed to perform and how to improve.  Surprisingly, wide receiver Marquise Lee has been the biggest play maker for the Jaguars.  But, a single player can’t win football games.  The Jaguars run game has been unimpressive, and although running back Chris Ivory is slated to return, he’s performed well below expectations with just 350 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns.  As for wide receiver Allen Robinson, he won’t come close to last season’s performance of 1400 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.  This season, Robinson has had 639 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns.  Wide receiver Allen Hurns will be out for the third straight week with a hamstring injury, not that anyone has noticed his absence.  Hurns has had a dreadful season with just 477 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.

As for other injuries, Myles Jack, rookie linebacker, did not participate in practice this week due to illness, and Blake Bortles managed to participate in full but is suffering a right shoulder injury.

What can we expect in Week 15?

  • Texans defense has a touchdown.

The Houston Texans win.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (6-7)

Indianapolis ColtsMinnesota Vikings

Indianapolis Colts @ Minnesota Vikings

The Indianapolis Colts are a game behind the Titans and Texans.  A win could potentially keep them in the running for the postseason, but they’d have to win the remaining three games and the Titans and Texans would need to lose a couple.  It’s an unlikely situation, but not impossible.

With the Titans facing the Chiefs, a win against the Minnesota Vikings makes this game just a little more meaningful for the Colts.

Can the Indianapolis Colts win in Minnesota?

After a five-game win streak in the beginning of the season, the Minnesota Viking have been sliding down a slippery slope, winning only 2 out of their last 8 games.  Regardless of their inability to win games, the Vikings are tied for second place with the Green Bay Packers and two-games behind the NFC North division leading Detroit Lions.

  • The Vikings defense have allowed the 2nd least points per game in the league.

The Vikings defense has allowed an average of 17.3 points per game.  Only the Seattle Seahawks have allowed fewer points with 16.8 points per game.  The Vikings defense are 3rd against the pass, allowing 202.2 yards per game.  And they’re 2nd in the league in total yards per game (304.3).  Only the Arizona Cardinals have allowed fewer yards per game, 298.5.

  • The Vikings defense has the 4th most sacks in the league (35).

Colts quarterback, Andrew Luck, is among the most sacked quarterbacks in the league, behind Buffalo Bills quarterback, Tyrod Taylor (39), and tied with Arizona Cardinals quarterback, Carson Parmer (37).  It doesn’t help that the Colts will be without guards Jack Mewhort, Denzelle Good and Joe Reitz, making their offensive front line even more vulnerable against the Vikings defensive front line.

  • The Colts defense…SUCKS.

Sorry Colts fans, but you know you can’t sugar coat ‘bad.’  The Colts defense is among the worst in the league, having the 24th defense against the run, allowing 115.4 yards per game, and 26th defense against the pass, allowing 262.4 yards per game.  They have only 7 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and 25 total sacks, good for 26th most in the league.

Vikings quarterback, Sam Bradford, is coming off one of his best games of the season with 292 passing yards and a touchdown.  Of course, it was against the (2-11) Jacksonville Jaguars.  Luckily for Bradford, he’ll be standing across an injured Colts defensive line that has yet to slow any offense.  The Colts secondary will also be without cornerback, Patrick Robinson, and safety, Clayton Gathers, for Sunday’s game.  Bradford has only 3-interceptions this season and none in six home games.  The Vikings might not have an explosive offense, but they do have the tools to beat this Indianapolis defense.

  • In week 10, the Colts did beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambo as underdogs, 31-26.  So, anything can happen.

What can we expect in Week 15?

  • Kyle Rudolph has a touchdown.
  • The Vikings defense has a touchdown.
  • Frank Gore has a touchdown.

The Minnesota Vikings win.

TENNESSEE TITANS (7-6)

Tennessee TitansKansas City Chiefs

Tennessee Titans @ Kansas City Chiefs

SEE AFC WEST Week 15 Preview and Predictions.

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