Titans, forced to repeat as champions in the AFC South

The Tennessee Titans they finished 12-5 and the top seed in the AFC last season despite using 91 players due to injuries, an NFL record for a non-strike season.

Coach’s team Mike Bravel he has won two consecutive Southern Division titles and enters the 2022 Kickoff campaign as the favorite for a third crown and his fourth straight Playoff appearance.

For this, Bravel knows that he needs the best version of the running back Derrick Henry, who had to have surgery on his right foot after an injury that sidelined him for half of last season. Although he returned for the Playoffs, ‘The King’ Henry was not a factor in the loss at home to the Cincinnati Bengals.

in that game, Ryan Tannehill he had three costly interceptions, including one with 28 seconds left that Cincinnati converted for the game-winning field goal.

Tannehill is no longer alone in Tennessee and if he hits a rough patch Bravel knows he can count on Malik Willisthe Liberty rookie who was a preseason sensation with two touchdown passes and another rushing touchdown.

The Titans return with 10 of 11 starters from a defense that ranked sixth in points allowed last season and tied for ninth with 43 sacks.

Tennessee was the only NFL team with three players with at least eight sacks each, and Harold Landry, Denico Autry, and Jeffery Simmons They are back. Also, the linebacker Bud Dupree He is finally recovered from a ligament injury that slowed him down in 2021.

The Indianapolis Colts they are, perhaps, the biggest threat to the Titans.

matt ryan is the new starting quarterback and Nick Foles alternate. Read, two quarterbacks with experience in at least one Super Bowl.

Also, Jonathan Taylorthe rushing leader last season, is coming for more behind one of the best offensive lines in the league.

The defense generated 33 turnovers and finished ninth in points allowed in 2021, behind linebacker Shaquille Leonard (yes, get used to his new name), and this year they added one of the best cornerbacks in the league: Stephen Gilmorenow under the orders of the new defensive coordinator, Gus Bradley.

The doubt in Indianapolis is in the wide receivers: Michael Pittman Jr. and the rookie Alec Pierce.

Maybe Ryan can be the difference.

Let no one ignore the Houston Texanswho start a new era with the head coach Lovie Smith.

Davis Mills He surprised as a rookie in 2021 and it will be interesting to see what the young quarterback is capable of in his second year in the league.

Brandin Cooks (90 receptions and 1,037 yards last season) is his best target, but the Texans haven’t been able to find another wide receiver to complement him.

Due to Smith’s defensive orientation, expect a dramatic improvement on that side of the ball, after Houston’s defense was one of the worst against the run in 2021.

Half of the Texans’ backcourt is new, including rookies Jalen Pitre (safety) and Derek Stingley Jr. (cornerback).

Finally, the jacksonville jaguars They arrive at the 2022 calendar as one of the most reinforced teams in the NFL.

After the fiasco of Urban Meyer last year, the team hired head coach Doug Petersonfamous for having given the philadelphia eagles his only Super Bowl title.

In free agency the linebacker arrived Foye Oluokunthe end Foley Fatukasi and the cornerback Dario Williams to a defense that has quietly built up enough to be among the best in the league.

However, all eyes will be on Trevor Lawrencelast year’s No. 1 overall pick, who struggled in his debut NFL season.

The Jaguars averaged 14.9 points per game, the lowest in franchise history, so the team also invested on that side of the ball to give its young quarterback more and better weapons. Thus, among the new faces are the wide receivers Christian Kirk Y Zay Jonesthe tight end Evan Engram and the guard Brandon Scherff.

In addition, the running back Travis Etiennewho missed his rookie season with a foot injury, is ready to help his former Clemson teammate Lawrence.

Yes, the Titans are the favorites to win the AFC South, but the competition will not be easy against three teams that have improved dramatically and are ready to fight round by round with the heavyweight of the Division.