Each week of the 2025 NFL season, I’ll take a look at all of the AFC South teams. I’ll give you a couple of takeaways from their latest games. Here’s what stood out from each franchise following Week 7.
Indianapolis Colts
spins the ball on his fingers Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, ahead of the game against the Denver Broncos at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
spins the ball on his fingers Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, ahead of the game against the Denver Broncos at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis – Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Colts: Turnovers & Protection
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Daniel Jones has one game this season in which he was sacked more than once (2). He’s also only had one game with multiple turnovers. Jones has recorded multiple touchdowns in 5 of 7 games this season, including throwing for two touchdowns in each of his last three games after only having one TD pass in each of his first four games. The Colts are tied for third in the NFL in takeaways (11) and are third in turnover margin (+7). Their only loss this season was when Jones was sacked multiple times and had multiple turnovers.
Colts: Well-rounded defense
Indianapolis is a complete team. On defense, they have 15 players with a TFL, 13 players with a PD, 13 players with a QB hit, and 11 players with a sack. They’re playing together as a collective unit where everyone is contributing and are where they’re supposed to be on their assignments. Each member can trust their teammates, which allows them to focus on doing their job and winning their 1-on-1 matchups.
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Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) celebrates his touchdown in the third quarter during a Monday Night NFL football game at EverBank Stadium, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug EngleFlorida Times-Union]
Jags: Offense has no identity
Trevor Lawrence is tight-end dependent. It’s not a coincidence that Lawrence has been sacked seven times in back-to-back games since Brenton Strange was injured. Lawrence needs a talented tight end that he can lean on. When he’s not able to, he’ll hold onto the ball and become inconsistent. Jacksonville should consider adding a talented receiving tight end before the deadline. Brian Thomas Jr. has struggled all season with drops. Travis Hunter had his best receiving game, but most of it came after the Rams had already put this one out of reach. Travis Etienne Jr. had a 30+ yard run in three of the Jags first four games this year. He hasn’t totaled more than 50 yards rushing in any of the team’s last three games and has only surpassed 60 rushing yards once in the last five.
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Jags: Defense lacking turnovers in back-to-back losses
After averaging almost three takeaways a game over the team’s first five games of the season, Jacksonville has gone two straight without any turnovers, with the team losing both. Devin Lloyd was named the defensive player of the month for September in the AFC. He didn’t play this week after being injured in the previous game, after just 15 defensive snaps. His departure from the unit coincides with the back-to-back losses in games with no turnovers created.
Houston Texans
Oct 20, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) sacks Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Texans: Offense looks like a lost cause
There’s no identity to the Texans offense, the playcalling and personnel decisions have been puzzling, and the team looks lost on that side of the ball. Houston’s offense attempted to attack the strength of the Seattle defense to no success. Their offense looked inept. They went back to players that had been benched and played mediocre veteran players over highly drafted rookies for no reason. They tried to throw to their bulky receiving backs and tried to rush their finesse backs in short-yardage situations. Every decision was so questionable that it appeared as self-sabotage. When the team needed a yard or less multiple times in the game, including on the goalline, they operated as if the QB-sneak had been banned in the NFL.
Texans: Defense is still stellar
Houston’s offense and special teams set their defense up to fail throughout the game. However, the defense repeatedly answered the call with three turnovers off of Sam Darnold, four in total, including a sack and forced fumble that led to a defensive touchdown. Darnold came in the game completing 71% of his passes on the season for 11 TDs / 3 INTs with only one lost fumble. Houston’s defense held him to 55% passing and almost doubled his turnovers on the season in this game. It was a stellar effort wasted on one of the worst offenses in the NFL.
Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) takes the field before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) takes the field before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn – Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Titans: Cam Ward is still getting valuable reps
The rest of the season for the Titans will be focused on working to prepare Ward for his future. He completed 23 of 25 attempts when targeting Tony Pollard, Chimere Dike, Van Jefferson, Gunnar Helm, Tyjae Spears, and Tyler Lockett for 226 yards and a TD. On the downside, he was sacked five times, following last week when he was sacked six times. It was also his fifth straight game with an interception. Ward has lost three fumbles in the last two games and five on the season. After only completing 50.8% of his passes over the first five games, he’s completed 70.8% the last two weeks.
Titans: Jeffery Simmons injured
It keeps getting worse for the Titans. The best thing going for the Titans this year is Simmons, who has played like one of the best defensive tackles in the league. A case could be made for the Titans to trade Simmons before the November 4th trade deadline and look to expedite the rebuild. They’ve come out and said before this game that they have no plan to move him, as he’s someone they want to build around. Simmons is 28 years old and the best asset that could merit a massive return on a bad team that seems far off from contention. The decision may cost them as Simmons left the game with a hamstring injury. There’s nothing for him to play for this year in Tennessee, and now he could miss some time.
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