C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans shocked the NFL last season by winning 10 games and the AFC South division title, and then winning a home playoff game. They enter this season with far greater expectations and a much more difficult schedule than they did a year ago.
With training camps underway and the season soon approaching, we rank the strength of schedules in the AFC South and where they land amongst the rest of the league.
Ranking the AFC South Teams by Strength of Schedule
1) Indianapolis Colts (8th Overall)
The Indianapolis Colts nearly snuck into the playoffs in Shane Steichen’s first season as head coach and will try to make the dance with second-year QB Anthony Richardson returning from injury.
General manager Chris Ballard grabbed promising edge rusher Laiatu Latu and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell in the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, giving Indy potential weapons on both sides of the ball.
The Colts will need every advantage they can get, as division-rival teams like the Texans and Tennessee Titans used free agency to upgrade their rosters with outside additions.
- Home: Texans, Jaguars, Titans, Dolphins, Bills, Steelers, Lions, Bears
- Away: Texans, Jaguars, Titans, Jets, Patriots, Broncos, Giants, Packers, Vikings
2) Jacksonville Jaguars (16th Overall)
The Jacksonville Jaguars collapsed down the stretch in 2023, losing five of its last six games while blowing its AFC South lead and missing the playoffs altogether.
The Jaguars’ division has seemingly overnight become one of the most competitive in the league. Did GM Trent Baalke and HC Doug Pederson do enough over the offseason for Jacksonville to rebound next year? Adding LSU wideout Brian Thomas Jr. to replace Calvin Ridley will help, but the Jags have their work cut out.
- Home: Texans, Colts, Titans, Patriots, Jets, Packers, Vikings, Browns
- Away: Texans, Colts, Titans, Dolphins, Raiders, Bills, Eagles, Bears, Lions
3) Tennessee Titans (26th Overall)
The Titans are going for it in Brian Callahan’s first season as head coach. They went on a spending free this offseason, adding RB Tony Pollard, the aforementioned Ridley, C Lloyd Cushenberry, and CBs L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie.
Will those additions be enough for Tennessee to compete in 2024? Or are they simply looking for a definitive answer on second-year QB Will Levis?
- Home: Texans, Colts, Jaguars, Patriots, Jets, Bengals, Packers, Vikings
- Away: Texans, Colts, Jaguars, Dolphins, Bills, Chargers, Bears, Lions, Commanders
4) Houston Texans (30th Overall)
Stroud and the Texans took advantage of one of the NFL’s easiest schedules last season, winning the AFC South before advancing to the Divisional Round.
Things won’t be quite as simple in 2024. Nevertheless, Houston earned an A for its free agency efforts after trading for WR Stefon Diggs and RB Joe Mixon and signing veteran EDGE Danielle Hunter.
The Texans were exciting enough to land a Christmas Day matchup against the Ravens.
- Home: Colts, Jaguars, Titans, Bills, Dolphins, Ravens, Bears, Lions
- Away: Colts, Jaguars, Titans, Jets, Patriots, Chiefs, Packers, Vikings, Cowboys