AFC South Week 1 Power Rankings: Jaguars poised to regain control of the division

The Jacksonville Jaguars are flying under the radar in 2024. Rightly so. Following a surprise playoff appearance in 2022, they were seen as a Super Bowl sleeper last year. While they managed to live up to expectations early on, the Jags ultimately failed to make the playoffs and finished second in the AFC South.

Now, Jacksonville is looking to reclaim the division and made enough moves in the offseason to give themselves a chance. That said, the Houston Texans, the Indianapolis Colts, and even the Tennessee Titans also restocked their roster.

This begs the question, where do the Jags find themselves ahead of the 2024 season? Here's a ranking of the AFC South ahead of Week 1.

4. Tennessee Titans

2023 record: 6-11

The Titans finished last in the AFC South last year. Their silver lining is that they knocked Jacksonville out of playoff contention in the finale. Then again, that wasn't enough to help Mike Vrabel keep his job. He was dismissed in the offseason and replaced with Brian Callahan.

To help Callahan, Tennessee general manager Ran Carthon spared no expenses to improve the roster, bringing in players such as slot receiver Tyler Boyd, cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, wide receiver Calvin Ridley, and running back Tony Pollard. Moreover, quarterback Will Levis is expected to make strides in his sophomore campaign.

Having said that, the only reason the Titans were able to add so much talent was that their roster was devoid of talent. Add Callahan's inexperience on the job — he's a first-time head coach — and Tennessee will need at least another season to become a legitimate threat.

3. Indianapolis Colts

2023 record: 9-8

The Colts were in the thick of the playoff race until the 2023 season finale. They ended up coming up short but they still deserve praise for staying competitive despite the fact that they lost starting quarterback Anthony Richardson to a shoulder injury early in the year.

Richardson is back but has struggled to hit his stride in the offseason. Maybe he'll get hot as the season progresses, but there's a chance he won't. On the other hand, Indy didn't make nearly enough moves as their division counterparts, opting instead to lean on the draft to acquire. They did re-sign several key contributors such as wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and Julian Blackmon but their roster doesn't look as stacked as those of Jacksonville and the Texans.

Maybe Richardson will put it all together but if he doesn't, the Colts don't have nearly enough talent across the rest of the roster to make a serious playoff push.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

2023 record: 9-8

The Jaguars lost all the momentum they built in 2022 but they're motivated to show that last year was just a bump on the road and not a sign of things to come. Owner Shad Khan has made it clear that he expects them to win, calling it the most talented Jaguars team ever. He isn't wrong.

You could make the case their 1999 counterpart was even better but the 2024 Jags have enough playmakers on both sides of the ball to compete with Houston for the division crown. While the Texans have an ascending quarterback in C.J. Stroud, Jacksonville has theirs in Trevor Lawrence.

Despite not having good protection or a running game to take pressure off his shoulders, No. 16 led the Jaguars to an 8-3 start last year. Now, he'll have a revamped offensive line in front of him, and several new weapons at his disposal. Add the arrival of defensive coordinator Ryan Nilsen, who'll get the most out of a unit that underachieved in 2024, and Jacksonville is poised to make noise next season.

1. Houston Texans

2023 record: 10-7

The division runs through the Texans, nobody will deny that. Led by sophomore C.J. Stroud, they'll be looking to win their second division championship in a row. Head coach DeMeco Ryans now has one year of experience under his belt and has a stronger understanding of how to run an NFL team.

Simply put, Houston should be the favorite to seize the AFC South. But that's the thing. Things are fluid in the NFL and what they accomplish in 2023 is now in the rearview mirror. This is a new season and they'll need to show they're capable of staying at the top of the division. The Jaguars won't make things easy for them and will give them a run for their money.

More Jaguars analysis here: