It was a bad day for all but one team in the AFC South.
While the Houston Texans won their Sunday matchup, the rest of the division lost, as the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts all went home with another L in the loss column.
With the Texans winning and the rest of the division losing, Houston now has sole possession of the top of the division. Here are the standings:
- Texans, 6-3
- Colts, 5-3
- Jaguars, 4-5
- Titans, 4-5
Let’s take a gander at each of the team’s respective games.
The Jaguars are left with a tough choice after a Houston beat down
The Texans beat the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium, in London, on Sunday morning (for those watching in the United States). They did so decisively, putting up 26 points to Jacksonville’s one field goal.
Jacksonville simply had no answers for quarterback Deshaun Watson on Sunday. Though their offense was able to move the ball at times, they weren’t able to do so consistently. To cap their Sunday off, they were not able to convert any of their red zone visits into touchdowns.
Rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew struggled on Sunday after wowing in the weeks before. He finished the game with four turnovers, all in the fourth quarter. Going forward, the Jaguars must decide between Minshew or veteran Nick Foles, who they paid handsomely in the offseason.
The Jaguars will have a bye in Week 10. After, they will face the Colts in Indianapolis.
Ryan Tannehill returns to reality as the Panthers down the Titans
The Carolina Panthers must be fans of the AFC South. In 2019, they’ve beaten the Texans, Jaguars and, as of Sunday, the Titans. They did so at home, as the Ryan Tannehill-led Titans lost 30-20 in a game where Christian McCaffrey recorded a hat-trick.
Tannehill, Marcus Mariota’s replacement, came back down to earth from his efficient, back-to-back winning, last two weeks. On Sunday, the quarterback threw two interceptions while going 17 of 32 for 232 yards and a touchdown. None of the interceptions were particularly “good ones.”
No matter the quarterback, the Titans aren’t a team designed to win by the right (or left) arm of a player. They are a defensive-minded squad with a ground game that can compliment it. Next week, that will be tested against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Colts lose a tough one and (potentially) their quarterback
The division leaders heading into the week, Indianapolis won last week by the right foot of kicker Adam Vinatieri. They lost on Sunday by the right foot of Vinatieri too. The 46-year-old all-time great kicker shanked a field goal that would have given the Colts a lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final minutes of their game.
The biggest storyline coming out of Indianapolis, however, is the health of quarterback Jacoby Brissett. He left Sunday’s loss early with a knee injury that is now believed to be a knee sprain related to the MCL, according to Stephen Holder of The Athletic.
Brian Hoyer filled in for Brissett adequately. The former Texan went 17 of 26 passing for 176 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Next week, they will face the Miami Dolphins at home. They may do so without their quarterback and No. 1 receiving option (T.Y. Hilton – calf).
Deshaun Watson goes global as the Texans tame the Jaguars in London
No Laremy Tunsil, J.J. Watt, Will Fuller, Tashaun Gipson, Bradley Roby, Lonnie Johnson, no problem. Despite being short-handed in their first-ever London game, the Texans beat the Jaguars easily. Houston is flying back across the pond as possessors of a 26-3 win over Jacksonville.
Though injured across the board, the Texans never kept it close for the Jaguars. Thank quarterback Deshaun Watson and the run-game for that. In another magical performance (that won’t show it in the box score), the third-year quarterback tossed for two touchdowns and a 120.4 passer rating. Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson combined for 173 rushing yards and a score.
The Texans are now the leader of the pack in the AFC South. They will surely enjoy their Week 10 bye, as it will allow Tunsil, Gipson, Roby, Johnson and potentially Watt the opportunity to rest up and get back in the mix for Week 11’s matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.
