While the Jacksonville Jaguars are fresh off their dominant 35-6 win over the New England Patriots in Week 3, the only other team in the AFC South that's managed to win a game this season is the Indianapolis Colts.
Although the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans have identical 0-3 records going into Week 4, the Texans are seemingly in a bigger hole. After all, this is head coach Robert Saleh's first season at the helm in Nashville, so even though he has prior experience, Tennessee was always expected to undergo a rebuild in 2026.
On the other hand, the Texans have no excuse when you take into account that the trio of quarterback C.J. Stroud, general manager Nick Caserio, and head coach DeMeco Ryans have been around for a while. And while Houston could always turn the corner, it doesn't currently pose a threat to the Jags.
The Jaguars have a big lead over the Texans in teh AFC South race
Things can always change at any time. Heck, the Texans also got off to a slow start to the season but managed to make the playoffs and advance even further than Jacksonville. That said, Houston is dealing with several issues, and none of them have an easy fix.
C.J. Stroud chose not to agree to an extension before the regular season because he wanted to bet on himself. So far, his gamble has yet to pay off, as he's been underwhelming the first three games, completing 60 percent of his throws for 794 yards with no interceptions. Sure, those numbers aren't half bad, but they aren't great either.
In his defense, Stroud isn't getting much help from his supporting cast, and offensive coordinator Nick Caley's playcalling has left much to be desired. That said, the 2023 first-round pick has been unable to elevate his team, something that Trevor Lawrence constantly got flak for.
This begs the question, does Stroud need everything around him to be perfect? He's regressed since his rookie season, which is why Houston was reluctant to hand him a top-market contract.
On the other hand, the Houston defense may be a bigger issue than the offense. In spite of having talent at all three levels, the Texans rank 19th in points scored and 16th in total yards heading into Week 4. That's not the kind of production you expect from a unit that includes cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., safety Jalen Pitre, and the pass-rush trio of Danielle Hunter, Jadeveon Clowney, and Will Anderson Jr.
Granted, Clowney is dealing with injuries, but the Houston pass rush did well without him in 2025, so there is no excuse for the group's lack of impact.
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The Texans have bigger issues than C.J. Stroud
Of course, DeMeco Ryans and Nick Caserio deserve the most heat for the Texans' underwhelming start to 2026. Ryans has failed to bring in a coordinator who can get the offense going, and Houston overall looks like a team with no discipline right now.
On the other hand, Nick Caserio has failed to properly replenish the roster the past three years. While he's had his fair share of hits, he's also struggled to beef up the offensive line and the wide receiver corps.
When you add it all up, it may be too early to stick a fork in the Texans, but the odds aren't precisely stacked in their favor.
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