AFC South Recap: Colts Definitive Number One
By Luke Sims
The AFC South butted heads with each other in week six with the Indianapolis Colts putting the Houston Texans in their place and the Tennessee Titans escaping with a win in what was essentially the Toilet Bowl against the Jacksonville Jaguars. We’ll recap the action here and chat about what it means.
Indianapolis Colts vs Houston Texans 33-28
The Texans are not a team to scoff at. Coming off a disastrous season where they woefully underperformed, the Texans are getting back into the swing of things at 3-3. The game against the Colts could have put them atop the division at 4-2, but instead the Colts showed that they are still the top dog in the division. It was Indy’s game pretty much throughout with 24 unanswered points to start the game, allowing them to play ball control against a Houston offense that is not exceptional when playing from behind.
Some of the big stories here are J.J. Watt’s impressive fumble recovery for a touchdown which came rather late in the game, but still makes him the first person in 53 years with an interception, fumble recovery, and receiving touchdown. That’s something to brag about, even if the score doesn’t go the Texans’ way. The other big thing of note is just how impressive Andrew Luck continues to play. Luck has always been good since he entered the league, but 2014 is looking like his coming out party as he threw for another impressive 25 of 44 for 370 yards and three touchdowns. It’s the fourth straight game Luck has put up over 300 yards (his third at 370 exactly), including five of the six total for the season and his fourth game of the year with at least three touchdowns. He is quickly becoming a quarterback worthy of being talked about as “elite.”
Tennessee Titans vs Jacksonville Jaguars 16-14
In a battle between two of the worst performing teams in the 2014 season it makes sense that this game came down to a field goal that was ultimately tipped and missed. The Jaguars lost on that third down 55-yard field goal after marching their way down the field for one last chance to pull ahead and win. It looks like an odd decision in retrospect as the Jags likely had time to run another play, but instead opted to kick. The game was plodding, but leaned the Titans’ way from after the Jags’ first opening touchdown drive until late in the fourth quarter.
Some big things of note include Jaguars’ quarterback Blake Bortles’ first game with over 300 passing yards (336) and his first with only one interception. It’s also the second game in a row the Jaguars’ defense has managed to keep the opposing team below 20 points after allowing monstrous point totals in the first four weeks. The Titans’ Jurrell Casey had a nice game with two sacks, three tackles for a loss, and three quarterback hits. He and the Titans got to Bortles six times in the game after the Jaguars’ offensive line looked to be better following an horrendous start to the season.