AFC South power rankings: Jacksonville Jaguars losing ground

The team that beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 sits at the top.

If you had suggested that Houston Texans were going to be the only AFC South to win in Week 1, you might’ve gotten plenty of ugly looks. However, you would be vindicated, as the Texans beat the Jaguars in a dominating fashion in the season opener.

Tyrod Taylor has been a good-not-great quarterback throughout this NFL career but he had no problem tearing apart Jacksonville’s secondary in Week 1. Houston also got a superb performance from their skilled-position players. Wide receiver Brandin Brooks hauled in five receptions for 132 yards. Tight end Pharaoh Brown looked unstoppable at times on his way to four catches for 67 yards. Running back Mark Ingram II also added 85 yards and one touchdown in 26 carries.

Texans head coach David Culley deserves plenty of credit for preparing his team to play despite the fact that he had to make chicken salad with what he had. Quarterback Deshaun Watson was inactive and it’s uncertain if he will play in 2021 due to the legal issues he’s facing. Also, the Texans lacked draft picks and cap space to make meaningful additions in the offseason.

The Texans could end up moving down later in the season but at least for one week, they are the best team in the AFC South. They are everything the Jaguars were supposed to be and weren’t. They played disciplined football and avoided making big mistakes. While that formula may not work against more talented teams, it was more than enough to beat a disappointing Jags team in the season opener.