It Might Be A Tough Year for the Colts
Ross Johnston explains why the Colts might find themselves finishing near the bottom of the AFC South in 2026.
Video Transcript
Where will the Indianapolis Colts finish in the AFC South in twenty twenty-six?
What's up, y'all?
It's Ross Johnston with A to Z Sports, and I might have some unfortunate bad news for you Colts fans because I have this team going either seven and ten or eight and nine, somewhere in that range, and I don't think that's gonna bode too well for them in the AFC South this season.
Now let's start with DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans.
They are the favorites to win the AFC South, and rightfully so when you look at that defense.
Houston's defense was number one in the NFL last year, and they have added new pieces.
They got Caden McDonald in the second round out of Ohio State.
They brought in Reed Blankenship.
As long as this dude right here, C.J.
Stroud, doesn't manage to mess it up, Houston should be about an eleven or twelve-win team and be first place in the AFC South, which I think they will be.
Now, I've got a lot of questions about Liam Coen and the Jacksonville Jaguars heading into twenty twenty-six.
He had a very strong first year, the best in the Trevor Lawrence era with the Jags.
But the Jags didn't really do anything this offseason.
They didn't add free agent talent.
They just got Chris Rodriguez at running back.
Their draft was really interesting, really questionable.
They overreached on a tight end in the second round, and they just didn't make a lot of good moves in the offseason.
So I don't know how to feel about the Jags, but what I will say is I think they are still around an eight to nine win football team.
And then you look at the sneaky underdogs, the Tennessee Titans.
I think what Robert Saleh and them are building over there is pretty freaking special.
I'm not saying the Tennessee Titans are gonna be a playoff team this year, but what I will say is that the Titans, I think, have the capability to be in the seven to nine win range because I think they upgraded their defense exponentially, and they added good pieces around Cam Ward.
So all that to say, when you ask me who I think is gonna win the AFC South, it's gonna be the Houston Texans.
Where I think the Colts will finish in the AFC South, I'm gonna go with third this year.
I think either the Jags finish second and Titans finish fourth, or you could flip it around, but I think third is a safe spot for the Colts this year.
I think th-them, the Jags, and the Titans will all be around that seven to nine win margin with the Texans in double digits.
I don't see the Colts finishing last.
Shane Steichen has them competing every year.
But I do think it's going to be a challenging year for Indianapolis.
