When it comes to the NFL, two of the most exciting players in the league are in the AFC South. Of course, on offense that would be Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts, and on defense it is J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans. But it's important not to just dismiss the other teams as they have been making strides this off-season to improve their roster. Most noticeably for each team was the Tennessee Titans drafting Marcus Mariota, and then the Jacksonville Jaguars signing a big time free agent tight end in Julius Thomas. But let's get a closer look at each of these teams and some of the burning questions surrouding this division.
1. Which coach is more on the hot seat, Gus Bradley or Ken Whisenhunt?
Norman Tall--Due to the lack of success for these two NFL franchises, The Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Tennessee Titans, I don't think after just a few seasons at the helm any of these coaches should be on the hot seat. But, If I had to pick one I would go with Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt. While Jags coach Gus Bradley has led the Jaguars to just 7 wins in the past two years, he has never had a strong roster and this may be the year he finally improves this team, under the guidance of young QB Blake Bortles. For Whisenhunt he took over a Titans team that finished 7-9 the year before he got there, and in his first season he finished with a very disappointing 2-14 record. With the leadership of new QB Marcus Mariota, I think this is Whisenhunt's last chance to prove he can coach in the NFL.
Julian Rosen--Whisenhunt for sure. He is supposed to be a QB expert and aside from a few good games at the end from Zach Mettenberger, he couldn't get consistent QB play. Mariota needs to show fans and the front office that he can be the QB of the future for a franchise that has desperately needed one and Whisenhunt needs to point this ship in the correct direction. The Jaguars are still rebuilding and showed positive signs last season. They will be given more leeway than the Titans.
Richard Sena--While both Bradley and Whisenhunt both have something to prove in 2015, I see Gus Bradley bearing a much heavier burden of success next season. The Jaguars ownership has showed Bradley ample patience and confidence despite not being able to eclipse four wins in each of his two seasons. A big part of Bradley’s appeal in Jacksonville, though, is his rapport with players, and he is still overseeing a team with a lot of developing young talent on both sides of the ball. Like Whisenhunt, Bradley is also overseeing the development of a young quarterback, which may prompt both ownerships to stay the course even if next season is yet another disappointment. That said, a lot of Bradley's and Whisenhunt’s futures will depend on the aesthetic of next season and not just the win total. The Jaguars and Titans will have to show progress that will inspire hope for there respective fan bases moving forward. If both teams appear stagnant in their progression, both coaches may end up looking for new jobs in 2016.
Connor Deitrich--Gus Bradley should be on the hot seat more so than Ken Whisenhunt. The Jaguars have good, young talent on offense. Also, Bradley is a defensive coach so he should be able to make something of the defense. So, Bradley should be on the hot seat because he has a little more talent to work with.
Eric Sampson--This is a very close call but given the state of both teams I believe that Ken Whisenhunt is on the hotter seat of the two. Even though Bradley has only won a total of seven games during his two seasons in Jacksonville, there seems to be a greater sense of belief surrounding the direction the organization is heading. As for Whisenhunt, following a 2-14 season that was statistically one of the worst in franchise history, his future is less certain. As if the heat from last season’s performance wasn’t hot enough, the organization is also in search of a new team president after Tommy Smith, who hired Whisenhunt resigned from the position this off-season. Nevertheless Whiz has done everything in his power to help improve the team heading into 2015. He was able to recruit Dick LeBeau to assume control of the defense, amongst adding key free agents, but the most significant move he made was his support in drafting quarterback Marcus Mariota. The selection of Mariota may have single handedly extended Whisenhunt’s contract for another year regardless of who the team’s next president will be, but even with the team’s new found optimism Tennessee must show dramatic improvement in year two or Whiz could find himself looking for a job at season’s end.
Jon-Michael Begay--I honestly believe none of these coaches will be fired, which would come to a surprise to most people, unless something drastic comes to either coach, but if it's one of the two, it would be Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley. In year three coming up for Gus Bradley, there must be more pressure on him instead of a currently rebuilding Tennessee team with a rookie quarterback in Marcus Mariota, with the Jaguars looking to win now with a young, yet talented, offense. If Gus doesn't take the Jags to over six wins, there might be a chance by the end of the year in Duval.
Colin Williams--This was honestly a more difficult question than I initially thought. Both coaches have young quarterbacks at the helm of a young team. I was going to go with Ken Whisenhunt even though I thought he was in the verge of getting fired last season but changed my decision to Gus Bradley. The reason I chose Whisenhunt to not be on the hot seat is because of one player, Marcus Mariota. Drafting Mariota gives Whisenhunt the ability so say "give me some time to develop Mariota". While Bradley could use the same excuse with 2nd-year quarterback Blake Bortles, I feel the Jaguars have a more talented team and the Jaguars brass knows that and will have higher expectations for the team. The Titans also have a developmental player in DoriaI Green-Beckham and have a young promising offensive line. I don't think either coach will be fired if their team has a bad year, but they would be very high on the hot seat for the following season.
Caleb Wahlgren--I’m going to go with Gus Bradley. He simply doesn’t have the time to buy like Ken does at this point. Plus Whisenhunt at least has a Super Bowl game on his record as a Head Coach while Gus has earned a third round draft pick in back to back seasons. While the Jaguars are in a rebuilding mode, it’s year 3. When you have hit the third year, progress is expected to be made. But just how much can the Jaguars progress when the free agents they get are continually overpaid because people know that you have not had a strong history with your franchise. Julius Thomas and Davon House are their key free agents while House wasn’t much of a starter with the Packers and Thomas was a top flight tight end with Peyton Manning, and his tight ends have not done a lot when they leave.
2. What record do you foresee for the Titans and what type of stat-line for rookie Marcus Mariota?
Norman Tall--I think the Titans will improve on their 2014 record, just slightly finishing with a record of 5-11 in their 2015 campaign. I think with the new under the radar signings like WR Hakeem Nicks, LB Brian Orakpo and TE Anthony Fasano, the Titans will not have many more wins, but will be a much more competitive team in 2015. As for Mariota, I think he will have an overall solid rookie year, but like most rookie QB's struggle with limiting turnovers. Assuming he starts from week 1, I see him finishing with about 3,200-3,750 total yards, with 25-30 total touchdowns with 12-16 total turnovers. Overall it should be a solid transition for Mariota to the NFL.
Julian Rosen--I think the Titans will win more than 2 games, but not by much. They are still weak at the linebacker position and are iffy at RB, since we don't know what we will get out of David Cobb. I expect a pretty even TD to Interception ratio for the rookie, and about 15 of each. I think Mettenberger will start the first few games but much like Bortles last year in Jacksonville, the young gun will be rushed in. The learning curve will be steep for Mariota, but I expect him to hold his own.
Richard Sena--Although the Titans did make a few small-time moves in free agency (the biggest being the addition of oft-injured Brian Orakpo), their progress will primarily come from building off of last season’s experience. On offense, Taylor Lewan will permanently move to the left side after a promising rookie year and the team will hope to get more out of sophomore tailback, Bishop Sankey (I do not expect much, if anything, from rookie David Cobb). Obviously, the Titans will hope to get more out of the quarterback position, and they certainly put their money where their mouth is by drafting Marcus Mariota 2nd overall. There are legitimate concerns about Mariota’s fit in Whisenhunt’s usually rigid offensive system, but he’ll at least add some dynamism that wasn’t present last season. With some reliable weapons to throw to in Kendall Wright and Delanie Walker, Mariota should be able to muster a state-line of around 3500 yards, 18 total touchdowns, and 16 total turnovers. Although the Titans have a number of question marks on both sides of the ball, their schedule does appear favorable from a pre-training camp perspective. I expect the Titans to be in the ballpark of 5 wins.
Connor Deitrich--I expect Marcus Mariota to throw for around 3,000 yards with a high amount of interceptions and quite a few fumbles, as he liked to run the ball a lot in college. I can see him throwing for 20-ish touchdowns in a season where I expect the Titans to finish 4-12.
Eric Sampson--With Marcus Mariota at quarterback the Titans should easily improve upon their 2-14 finish last season. The Titans have been in search for a franchise signal caller since the departure of Steve McNair. After starting eight different quarterbacks over the last nine seasons the Titans feel confident they found their guy. Players and coaches have praised him for the way he carries himself as a leader, as well as the results they’re seeing on the practice field, highlighting his throwing accuracy and ability to take command of the huddle. Mariota’s speed and athleticism will provide the Titans with an extra dimension to their game that will keep opposing defenses on their toes and should open up the run game. Even with Mariota leading the offense it’s likely that Tennessee is still a couple of years away from making a run at the playoffs. They have a more favorable schedule then in past years but I think there are too many unknowns on the roster to predict Tennessee as the next team to shock the world. I think Mariota will have a solid rookie season throwing right around 3,000 yards, with 20 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He’ll also run for close to 500 yards and 5 touchdowns. As for the Titans, I’m predicting a final record of 6-10.
Jon-Michael Begay--I think the Titans will stay at the bottom of the AFC South this year with 4 wins, because there are still at a stage where they are rebuilding and it's always difficult to rack up games, especially if there isn't a ton of talent of defense besides Jurrell Casey. As for Marcus Mariota, I think he will be a major contender for the offensive rookie of the year title with a reasonable stat line of 3,000 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions with a 57% completion rate, as well as 400 yards on the ground and 2 touchdowns to go with it. I believe his ability as a dual-threat quarterback will help him with the Titans in his first season, even if there is a struggle for the entire team for the upcoming season.
Colin Williams--I have the Titans going 2-14 in the 2015 NFL season. Their only wins coming against the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Browns have a young and talented defense with one of the best secondaries in the league but that doesn't matter if they can't score any points. Their offensive line is great but they having nothing else on that side of the ball. While they having some promising players running backs Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell they have nothing at quarterback and wide receiver. I think the Titans have a solid defense and I believe they could out score the Browns with Mariota at the helm. I believe they will split with Jacksonville and will win their home game against the Jaguars. Mariota will be much improved from the beginning of the season and Dorial Green-Beckham will emerge as a star Wide Receiver for the Titans at this point in the season. I can see Mariota's stat-line being very close to Robert Griffin III's rookie star-line. I think Mariota will pass for around 3,500 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions with a completion percentage of about 64 percent. He will also rush for around 760 yards, 5 touchdowns and 3 to 4 fumbles.
Caleb Wahlgren--The Tennessee Titans had a lot of excitement to the season last year, especially after they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium in the first game. But that excitement quickly waned as they went 2-5 in their first 7 games before they benched Jake Locker to go to the quarterback of less experience in Zach Mettenberger. Of course that did not go terribly well as they lost their final 10 games of the season. With Marcus Mariota at the helm, he should fair to be better than Zach Mettenberger, but they still have offensive line issues and not a real running game. Plus their receivers are unproven. If anything, they seem to have improved defensively with Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan. But they still have a lot of improving to do to get better. With all that being said, the Titans at best are a team that would hope to achieve a 5-11 record. Marcus Mariota is an odd fit with the Titans offense, but they maybe could find a way to use him differently, similarly to how Mike Shanahan had a different bag of tricks for Robert Griffin during his rookie season. I simply don’t expect a ton from him, but he could throw for 2,500 yards and 19 touchdowns and also 15 interceptions. That is if he can stay healthy for 16 games, rushing quarterbacks that have smaller frames have had trouble staying healthy for 16 games.
3. Who will have a better NFL career, Marcus Mariota or Blake Bortles?
Norman Tall--I think Blake Bortles will have a better career than Marcus Mariota. I think while struggling through his first year in the NFL, Bortles showed a lot of promise and potential to the Jaguars. At just 23-years old, Bortles best is yet to come and should give the Jaguars and their fans heading into the future.
Julian Rosen--Bortles, although they both have pretty good weapon. Mariota gets Dorial Green-Beckham, Hakeem Nicks, Justin Hunter and Kendall Wright and Bortles has Julius Thomas, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. Ultimately, I think Bortles is more accurate and will be a better decision maker, while Mariota is more athletic and faster. Neither will be Hall of Famers but the Jaguars have a good young core developing, especially with rookie halfback T.J. Yeldon in the mix.
Richard Sena--If Mariota and Bortles were in the same draft, they’d likely occupy similar airspace. Bortles, though, has more valuable pro traits—like pocket presence and anticipation—while Mariota possesses the gaudy collegiate statistics and eye-popping athleticism. Ultimately, I believe Bortles will become the better player, but they’ll always be close in overall caliber. To go back to my pre-draft comparisons, I likened Bortles to a poor-man’s Andrew Luck and Mariota to Ryan Tannehill. I like Bortles' upside more as he more closely resembles the epitome of the modern quarterback ideal, but Mariota isn’t far behind. In an era where player’s career success is (unfairly) measured by Super Bowl wins, it’s hard to foresee either team hoisting the trophy any time soon.
Connor Deitrich--In my opinion, Blake Bortles will have a better career in the NFL than Marcus Mariota. Bortles did not do well in his rookie season, but I can see him turning that around this season, especially now that he has a season under his belt with the young talent on the Jaguars.
Eric Sampson--This is tough because both quarterbacks have prototypical size and athleticism and are also surrounded with questions of whether they can succeed in the NFL. Obviously Bortles didn’t have the most impressive rookie campaign but the original plan was for him to sit out while he learned under Chad Henne last season. Instead he was thrown into the fire where he ultimately crashed and burned. With that being said, I do think it was more beneficial to get him in the game even if he was overwhelmed. The in game experience should help speed up his progression and even though he was inconsistent you did see glimpses of why he was drafted third overall throughout the year. Jacksonville has done a good job adding talent to their roster which leads me to believe their supporting cast will help Bortles more than Tennessee’s will help Mariota. Mariota will have a more impressive rookie year than Bortles did, but overall I think Bortles will have the better NFL career.
Jon-Michael Begay--I believe that Blake Bortles will have a better career than Marcus Mariota. In the NFL, you need to stand tall and take shots in the pocket, and that's one thing what worries me about Mariota in the NFL-level with his size and durability playing in the pocket successfully in the NFL. With Bortles, however, he's a big body that can stand tall in the pocket and play even better when he rolls out of it. Blake Bortles has the support of the entire Jaguars organization currently to make a leap to prove why he can become a perennial starter in the NFL for years to come in his second year in the league, and he prove to be just that guy in the upcoming season.
Colin Williams--Blake Bortles. I don't believe Mariota will have a bad career I just think Bortles has a better team around him. The Jaguars are a very young team. I think Marqise Lee, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns will all take a step forward this year especially Allen Robinson. Denard Robinson looked good at the end of last season and I love the addition of T.J. Yeldon in the draft. He was one of my favorite players in the draft this year. I like the addition of Donte Fowler Jr. He will be a great pass rusher for years to come. Mariota needs more on defense to help him and better supporting cast on the offensive side of the ball other than Dorial Green-Beckham. I believe Bortles can bring a Lombardi trophy to Jacksonville and will be the best quarterback Jacksonville has ever had.
Caleb Wahlgren--I think that Marcus Mariota has a better chance of having a better NFL career, but it largely depends on what happens with the Titans organization. Because historically, they have done a good job of taking care of their best players. But when you think about the Jaguars, it is a big question if Bortles will ever get that nine figure contract that he is hoping for. After all, the Jags are the team that cut Byron Leftwich for David Garrard during the preseason, and then 5 years later repeated themselves and cut David Garrard for the quarterbacks of Blaine Gabbert and Luke McCown. With Tennessee, if they get the right leaders in their organization, they will nurture and develop Mariota to be a fantastic quarterback for years to come, and that’s a belief that I just don’t come close to for the Jaguars.
4. Who is your AFC South Preseason MVP?
Norman Tall--J.J. Watt is my AFC South pre-season MVP. While I could argue between him and Andrew Luck, I'm going to say Watt. When you look at what he did last year, especially on defense, Watt showed just how dominant he really is. In just four years in the NFL, Watt has been an absolute powerhouse causing 13 turnovers and taking down the quarter back for 57 sacks along with 5 touchdowns, which is a massive number for a defensive lineman. I think in 2015 Watt will have a massive impact on the Texans season and add a lot of stats to his already historically good career.
Julian Rosen--J.J Watt. I think he leads the defense of the Texans to a wildcard spot this season and pushes the NFL sack record. Watt is one of the most dominant defensive players we have seen in the past decade and makes an impact on almost every series. Offensively it has to be Luck, who should lead a high-powered offense in Indy and inch closer to a title in 2015.
Richard Sena--Despite it not being explicitly stated in the question, I will disqualify the deficit answer: Andrew Luck. Taking Luck out of the conversation, the next logical conclusion would be J.J. Watt—who seriously encroached upon the sacred MVP quarterback club last year. Still, going chalk with this answer rubs me the wrong way. After arbitrarily disqualifying the two best players in the AFC South, my eyes immediately turn to Frank Gore. The 32-year-old Frank Gore will have the potential to give the Colts an element they haven’t had since Edgerrin James: a valid running game. It won’t just be a valid running game that the Colts will get though, it will also be a reliable one. Gore hasn’t missed a game since 2010 and has always eclipsed 1,000 yards and 250 carries since. Fore both Gore and the Colts, neither have faced a more favorable situation. While Luck may ultimately run away with the not only the division’s MVP but also the league MVP, Gore will be the engine that runs that campaign.
Connor Deitrich--Only two people make sense here, Andrew Luck and J.J. Watt. I think that Andrew Luck will finish the season as the best player in the division. With the off-season addition of Frank Gore, opposing defenses will have to respect the run game of the Colts, which they didn’t have to do last year. And of course, Luck has great weapons to utilize, so I can see him having a huge year.
Eric Sampson--Instead of looking at this in the direction that the others have, I decided to actually pick a MVP of the Preseason games in the AFC South. I’m going to go with rookie prospect Dorial Green-Beckham. He has a great opportunity and I expect him to make the biggest impact in the preseason. The combination of his size, speed, and athleticism compares to the likes of Detroit’s Calvin Johnson, and if not for his off the field issues at the University of Missouri he likely would’ve been a top 10 draft pick. The Titans are in desperate need of playmakers to help their rookie quarterback in the passing game and after sitting out last season at Oklahoma I suspect Green-Beckham is itching for the opportunity to get on the field and he should to get plenty of balls thrown his way. Also with Justin Hunter recently being arrested for felonious assault, the Titans may look to get Beckham some first team looks sooner than expected. Dorial Green-Beckham is my prediction to be the AFC South Preseason MVP.
Jon-Michael Begay--My AFC South Preseason MVP would have to go to Jaguars WR Allen Robinson, due to the fact that he's making strides to become a number one target here in Jacksonville. He had a very nice rookie season until an injury against the Cowboys put him on the shelf for the 2014 season. Before the injury, he had only dropped one pass in over 50 targets and ran for more than 550 yards, and he's shown to have recovered from the injury quicker than expected so far in the off-season, and has been highlighted by his spectacular catches.
Colin Williams--Andrew Luck. I believe J.J. Watt is the best player in the league but Luck is more valuable. If Luck goes down that changes the face of not just the division but the entire conference. Luck going down could possibly make a number one seed team completely miss the playoffs. The Colts defense is not very good and while I do think they have some great receivers the drop-off from Luck to Matt Hasselbeck is enormous. If Watt goes down that really doesn't do much to change the division standings. In my opinion Luck is the fourth best quarterback in the league behind Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Ben Roethlisberger. The only thing Luck really needs to improve on is lowering his interception totals, while I admire him trying to make something happen out of nothing, sometimes it is just better to take a sack or throw it out of bounds than turn the football over.
Caleb Wahlgren--Looking at this question two players easily come to mind. There is Andrew Luck, the quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, and then there is J.J. Watt, the defensive end of the Houston Texans. Both of these men are not only the best players in their division, but arguably would be some of the best players in all of the NFL, with both being on potential preseason watch lists for NFL MVP for 2015. But if you ask me who is more valuable, I’m going with Luck. It simply is clear that Luck has gotten his team to win the division as quarterbacks are more valuable than defensive ends. If you traded the two of them to the rival team, I think the Texans could easily win twelve or thirteen games this season, but the Colts would easily fall apart without Luck.
5. The Texans went 9-7 last season with minimal support from quarterback. How far can Ryan Mallet or Brian Hoyer take them this season?
Norman Tall--While the Houston Texans had a revolving door at the quarterback position last year unfortunately I don't think Ryan Mallett or Brian Hoyer can take them much further. For much of their whole careers Mallett and Hoyer have been back up players and I don't think either of them is starter material. Hoyer has struggled to maintain the starting role in his career and I think Mallett still has a lot to learn in his young career. I think if the Texans have any chance to improve next year, and maybe make the layoffs, they will have to heavily rely on their defense.
Julian Rosen--The offense around those guys is solid enough to get them to 10-6. They just need to hand the ball to Arian Foster and limit turnovers, allow their play-making defense to do its thing. Cecil Shorts, DeAndre Hopkins, and Jaelen Strong will be a formidable receiving core and the secondary is significantly improved.
Richard Sena--Considering I view former Texans starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick, as a superior player than both Mallet and Hoyer at this point, I don’t expect much from the signal callers currently on Houston’s roster (including Gil Brandt’s adopted son, Tom Savage). Still, head coach Bill O’Brien and staff have cultivated an offensive structure that leans heavily on the talents of Arian Foster. Foster, who averaged over 90 yards a game last season, isn’t a bad alternative to the replacement level quarterback play the Texans will be subjected to. Houston’s best chance to make the playoffs will have more to do with the emergence of their defense, though. If the run-first offensive mindset can effectively compliment an emerging defense led by J.J. Watt, then the Texans may flirt with a wildcard bid.
Connor Deitrich--Brian Hoyer should be the starting quarterback, but neither him nor Ryan Mallet will improve the team’s record from last year. With the departure of Andre Johnson, opposing teams will be able to key on DeAndre Hopkins. Then, as long as Arian Foster is contained, it will be hard for the Texans to score enough points to win nine games.
Eric Sampson--I have a hard time seeing either Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallet making a dramatic improvement for the Texans this season. With that being said I would rather take my chances with either one of them over Ryan Fitzpatrick. Both are respectable and should at least be able to replicate what the team did last season finishing at 9-7. I’m more intrigued by the prospect of Ryan Mallet as he has a little more of the unknown factor that could surprise people but as for Hoyer I think he’ll be similar to what Ryan Fitzpatrick was last year. Best case scenario to me would be Mallet starting and leading them to 10 wins.
Jon-Michael Begay--The Texans might win more than one game than last year with their quarterback state. The team is already immensely talented around the team with Arian Foster, DeAndre Hopkins, and defensive player of the year J.J. Watt. With Hoyer or Mallett, you'll get a lower tier, yet capable quarterback to not make any crucial mistakes under Bill O'Brien's system to hold down the game for Houston with the players they already have. The Texans, with wither quarterback, will look to have about the same amount of wins as last year, but I still believe that they are an elite quarterback away from AFC title contention.
Colin Williams--If I was the Texans I would roll with Ryan Mallet. Mallet has a rocket arm and has more upside the Brian Hoyer. If Mallet comes out guns blazing I could see the Texans winning the division but that seems highly unlikely. If Mallet is an above average quarterback the Texans can win around 9 or 10 games. They have some weapons on offense with DeAndre Hopkins, Nate Washington and Jaelen Strong. They have a pretty decent offensive line and one of the most underrated running backs in the league with Arian Foster. They defense is great with J.J. Watt, Vince Wilfork, and Johnathan Joseph and could even be more deadly if Jadeveon Clowney and Brian Cushing could stay healthy.
Caleb Wahlgren--You could argue that I’m wrong, but I don’t really know how much of an upgrade either of these quarterbacks are compared to Fitzpatrick. With the remaining talent on the team though, you have to figure that if one of them is consistent enough and healthy enough, the Texans could be a ten win team. Right now I would project Brian Hoyer to be the starter as he has been talented enough to start with both the Cleveland Browns and the Minnesota Vikings. But, even if ten wins with Hoyer is enough to get to the playoffs, I would project them as a wild card. That would probably put them against the Baltimore Ravens in Charm City, which would be a game that I would have to pick the purple Ravens to win.
6. The Texans - Colts was a tight series last year. With Andre Johnson now in Indy, does this add more attitude to the rivalry?
Norman Tall--I think Andre Johnson now in Indy will add more attitude to this rivalry. This is because Johnson was with Houston since 2003 and was a big part of helping that franchise through their rough beginnings. Also it is the way Johnson left Houston, stating multiple times that he was unhappy and wanted to be traded. I still think next year the Colts will dominate this rivalry with the new additions and having beat Houston many times in the past.
Julian Rosen--I think it makes for a more heated series, but overall the rivalry has been pretty peaceful. There just isn't much history or room for bad blood between teams that have been playing each other for only a dozen years. Plus, the Colts moved to Indy about 30 years ago. Big rivalries such as Bears-Packers and Redskins-Cowboys go back to the 60s and 70's. There have never been any big fights, unlike when these teams play against the Titans. It will be great to see how Andre is received in Houston while wearing the horseshoe. Most fans will applaud the man who was this franchises first ever star, but there will be some boos floating around.
Richard Sena--While it’s inevitable that Houston's and Indianapolis’ week 5 match up (in Houston) will be marketed with the typical fervor and fanfare that is befitting of a former player vs. former team storyline, I don’t expect any added attitude that will affect anything on the field. As a divisional rivalry, the Texans are the closest to challenging the Colts for the divisional crown. If things are close come week 15, then there might actually be some sincere chippyness between both sides.
Connor Deitrich--Andre Johnson’s departure should not add to the rivalry between his current team and his former team. Johnson has always been a great receiver who never had a good quarterback, so he should not be hated for finding a team with one. However, this will still be a heated rivalry, so the Texans might have to beat the Colts twice to have any chance of winning the division.
Eric Sampson--The Colts addition of Andre Johnson undoubtedly adds more attitude to their rivalry. Andre Johnson clearly wasn’t happy being in Houston anymore. He was loyal to the organization his entire career, but his frustration over the team’s recent rebuilding situation and the lack of quarterback play led him to go play in Indy with arguably the best quarterback in the NFL and division rival Andrew Luck. Johnson has a chip on his shoulder after he has seen his numbers decline over the last couple of years and with the Colts primed to make Super Bowl run this year, you can guarantee the rivalry will be at an all-time high when the teams meet in October.
Jon-Michael Begay--History says that the Indianapolis Colts owns the Houston Texans, taking 22 of the 26 games they have played with each other, but last season proved that the Texans are really close, and a really good team. I did find the move from Andre Johnson a bit surprising to move to another AFC South team after an extremely successful career with the Texans, but I still think that his name being with the Colts doesn't make their rivalry more enticing, but seen as a veteran trying to win a championship with a team nearing an end of an amazing career.
Colin Williams--It might but I don't believe so. I love Andre Johnson but he was getting a little over the hill and his production was declining. I don't expect Johnson to pull a 139-yard, two-touchdown performance against his former team like Steve Smith Sr. did last year against the Carolina Panthers, but I can see a little talking back and forth but nothing else. I honestly don't even think Johnson is all that concerned with talking trash about them though, I think he just wants to beat them, make it to the playoffs, and win a Super Bowl as with almost every other player on the Colts.
Caleb Wahlgren--Sometimes players switching between teams can add to a rivalry. Sometimes it doesn’t have much of an effect at all. It’s tough to project this one though as Houston had Andre Johnson for 12 years after taking him third overall in the 2003 NFL draft. But they knew they were in a rebuild, and after trying to trade him, let him be released as they knew he was unhappy with the team. Given the fact that Johnson hasn’t ever had a quality quarterback, it will be exciting to see just how productive he can be with an Andrew Luck throwing him the football. If anything, I probably feel like the games become a little bit more lopsided in the Colts favor as they continue to be the best team in the AFC South.
7. The Colts have made it further in the playoffs each season Andrew Luck has been in town. After being taken out in the AFC Championship last season, can they make the Super Bowl this year?
Norman Tall--I don't think the Colts will make it to the Super Bowl this year. While Luck has taken the Colts further each year in his time at quarter back, I think it will be too tough for the Colts to get there. I think they will make it far again, but I think at some point Luck and the Colts will have to face the New England Patriots in the playoffs, and this is something that has not gone well for Luck. Since Luck came into the league, he is 0-4 against the Patriots and the Colts have been outscored in those games 189-73. I think The Colts have all of the pieces to again make the AFC championship game, but will again fall short in their ultimate goal of making the Super Bowl.
Julian Rosen--Absolutely. They have a great shot at getting to the Super Bowl if another team, such as the Denver Broncos or Ravens, could take out New England. If not, the road gets tougher for the Colts. The Patriots, much like the colts of the early 2000's, have become a thorn in Indianapolis's side. They really need to figure out how to match up against them and most importantly, out-coach them. Strategically, the Colts were unmatched against the Patriots both times they met last season. Otherwise, they seem to fair well against the Broncos and Ravens, but might have a bit of trouble against the Steelers. None-the-less, the offense is re-vamped and if Gore and Herron can provide a steady 1-2 punch, Luck will have a field day this season. The Colts offense should carry them at least to the AFC championship game.
Richard Sena--With the additions of Andre Johnson, Frank Gore, and Trent Cole, Phillip Dorsett, and when/if Robert Mathis returns form his torn ACL, the Colts face their best opportunity to reach the Super Bowl this season. As I mentioned, the team may have an element in the running game that Andrew Luck hasn’t had the luxury to play with. Reaching the Super Bowl will largely hinge on the effectiveness of the defense, though. The Colts still have question marks on their front seven, and while the defense won’t likely be good enough to win games on their own, they must be good enough to compliment what should be a stunning offensive attack.
Connor Deitrich--Playing in the AFC South, the Colts are pretty much a lock to make the playoffs. Their offense will likely be a top two offense in the AFC, with the Pittsburgh Steelers being the main challenger. The defense was hardly top 20 in points allowed per game last year, though. So, if the defense, specifically the rush defense, can improve from last year, I could see this team making a Super Bowl run.
Eric Sampson--To say the Colts can’t make the Super Bowl this year would be a little dramatic. Of course they can. They’ve progressed every year with Luck at quarterback and there’s no reason to think they can’t do the same this season. They didn’t lose anyone significant during the off-season and they were able to add some quality veterans on both sides of the ball to solidify their run. The concern for me is whether they can develop the run game. The addition of Frank Gore gives them some stability at running back but he’s 32 years old and I can’t help but wonder if this will be the year he begins to wear down. Indy is absolutely loaded at receiver and the pass game should be as good as ever, but if they can’t figure out how to improve the run game I think they’ll end up being too one dimensional for a Super Bowl berth.
Jon-Michael Begay--There's a good chance that could happen. However, they need to start beating teams that were better than them in the regular season, like the Patriots in Week 5. They have a weaker division to take advantage from and a chance at home-field advantage would be a great opportunity for the Colts to try to make it to Santa Clara in February.
Colin Williams--I believe they can. I think the only two teams stand in their way of getting to the Super Bowl this year and that is the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers with really the only true challenge coming from the Steelers. I believe the AFC Championship game will between the Steelers and the Colts. The Colts have one of the best offenses in the league and can shoot it out with anyone. My only concern is their defense, while they do have a shutdown corner in Vontae Davis and of one of the best pass rushers in the league with Robert Mathis, they need much better play from the rest of their players. I was a little surprised when they took Phillip Dorsett in the first round of the draft this year with all the talent they have at receiver. After that the Colts went heavy on the defensive side of the ball with 5 of their next 7 picks being on the defensive side of the ball. If they can get an above average play on defense the Colts have a strong chance at winning the Super Bowl this year.
Caleb Wahlgren--Right now, there are only three teams in the AFC that I currently feel like can make the Super Bowl. They are the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots, the Denver Broncos, and the Indianapolis Colts. However, the Colts had a bit of a breeze to make the AFC Championship last season, as they played a Cincinnati Bengals team with no receivers. A.J. Green was hurt and they were lining up rookie running backs like Rex Burkhead out at wide receiver. Then they played a Denver Broncos team that was without their best player, as Peyton Manning was dealing with a leg injury that hadn’t been disclosed before the game. But they still have a strong chance as they are one of the best teams in the AFC, but if they get matched up against the Patriots again, I’m always going to side with Bill Belichick as they have rocked the Colts continuously over the past few years.