The ninth week of the NFL season is in the books. It’s time to look at each team in the AFC South and grade their offense, defense, and coaching, and give out final grades on the latest games.
Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) looks on after the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Offense: F
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Daniel Jones had three turnovers in his first eight games this season. He almost doubled that number in Week 9 alone, with three interceptions and two fumbles lost. Jones completed a season-low 62% of his passes and was sacked five times after only being sacked nine times in his first eight games. Jonathan Taylor had his lowest rushing and receiving output this year and failed to score a touchdown for the first time in a game since Week 4.
Defense: B-
The defense held up their end of the bargain and kept the Colts in the game despite their offense having six turnovers. Indy held the Pittsburgh Steelers offense to 38 rushing yards on 23 carries. Aaron Rodgers barely threw for 200 yards, with most of that going to tight ends or running backs, with the exception of Calvin Austin III catching five passes for 56 yards. Laiatu Latu made the most of his increased playing time by putting up 2.5 sacks in the game.
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Coaching: D
Coaching has to take some blame when you have one of the best offenses over the first half of the season and then come out and get manhandled by a defense that had given up 340+ passing yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in each of their previous two games to Jordan Love and Joe Flacco. It fell apart for Indy offensively in this game, and the coaching staff didn’t have any answers for getting it back on track. This game wasn’t as close as the final score made it seem. Indy was down three scores before scoring twice in the last 4 and a half minutes.
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Overall: D+
The offense was abysmal, but the defense showed up and tried to give the Colts a chance in this one. In the end, Indianapolis was outmatched. The horrific game by Jones will put the pause on anyone buying too much on the ceiling for the Colts this season.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Oct 19, 2025; London, United Kingdom; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) passes the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Offense: B-
After being sacked seven times in each of his last two games, Trevor Lawrence was only sacked once by the Las Vegas Raiders. While he didn’t have any touchdown passes, he did run for two touchdowns in the game, like he did earlier this season against the Kansas City Chiefs. Parker Washington had his second straight game with 9+ targets, catching eight of them for a team-high 90 yards.
Defense: D
Jacksonville’s defense did get back to creating turnovers in this game, with one interception. But it was against the NFL-leader in interceptions thrown, Geno Smith. Smith only had seven touchdown passes entering the game, but the Jaguars gave up four to him, with Brock Bowers catching three of those for 127 yards on 12 receptions. It took overtime for Jacksonville to pull out the one-point win over the now 2-6 Raiders.
Coaching: D+
The Jags had nine penalties for 80 yards against the Raiders. It’s the fifth time in the last six games that Jacksonville has been penalized at least nine times. They’re not a disciplined team, as they’ve struggled to get their top receiving options to perform before rookie Travis Hunter’s injury and have had drop issues across the roster. As a defense, they no longer create consistent turnovers or get to the quarterback.
Overall: C-
Jacksonville has become mediocre on defense and have been that way on offense for the last several weeks. The penalties, drops, lack of turnovers, and sacks from the defense point to a team that will have to fight to overcome their flaws weekly and could fall out of the playoff hunt as the season goes along.
Houston Texans
Nico Collins
Oct 6, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (12) makes a reception for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Offense: C
The Texans offense was moving the ball well and finding success before C.J. Stroud left the game with an injury. Backup QB Davis Mills struggled to do anything in the second half as the Texans went 0-7 on third downs and punted on their last six possessions of the game. The running game struggled as well, with Nick Chubb and Woody Marks combining for 21 carries for 61 yards. After a first half in which Nico Collins caught 7 passes for 75 yards, he had zero receptions on only two targets in the second half.
Defense: B
Houston’s defense was dominating early in this game, as were their special teams. The Texans blocked a field goal and recovered a muffed punt on special teams as the defense shut Denver’s offense down until a touchdown pass from Bo Nix to Courtland Sutton on 3rd and 10 before the half. In the second half, the time of possession flipped. After Houston’s offense controlled the ball in the first half and kept their own defense fresh, they couldn’t stay on the field and forced their defense to play the majority of the second half.
Coaching: D-
Despite Stroud’s injury, Houston still had a chance to beat a team that is tied for the NFL lead for the best record, following this game. Houston has been atrocious in the red zone this season and once again looked like they had no idea how to get one yard when on the goal line. If the Texans had scored one touchdown, rather than settling for five field goals, the four-point difference would have been enough to pull out the win. Houston’s halfway through the season and still struggling with the same personnel and gameplanning mistakes they were making to start the season. That falls on the coaches.
Overall: C-
To be fair, Houston played without their starting quarterback for three quarters in this game, faced one of the top teams in the NFL (record-wise), and dominated the game when Stroud was playing. Close doesn’t count, though. Houston dug themselves into a hole this season by starting 0-3 and has not been able to pull out the one-score games, as the other team makes the play, and Houston always gives it up. The Texans would need to go 7-2 most likely to make the playoffs, and with the schedule they have, combined with their performance this season against good teams, it seems highly unlikely.
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
Offense: D-
The offense didn’t turn over the ball, but the QB was sacked 4+ times for the seventh time in nine games as Cam Ward has been sacked an NFL-leading 38 times. Tony Pollard was efficient with 56 rushing yards on just 10 carries, but the offense couldn’t get into the endzone, mustering just two field goals on the day.
Defense: C
Tennessee’s defense had a pick-six from Cody Barton, six sacks as a team, and Cedric Gray put up 16 tackles. The defense kept the Titans in this game as the offense was inep,t but Tennessee didn’t trail until 25 seconds left in the third quarter.
Coaching: C
It’s hard to blame the coaching staff that’s taken over for a team that has few quality players. Their most talented player (Jeffery Simmons) is injured and didn’t play. Other players that do show any value are quickly shipped out for a return as the team is playing for the future. The latest player to perform and then get moved is Dre’Mont Jones. Jones had four QB hits and 1.5 sacks in this game, but has since been traded. The move comes after Jones had put up at least one sack in four straight games.
Overall: C-
Tennessee isn’t playing with much talent these days, and for them to keep this one in reach for most of the game was a pleasant surprise. They received a touchdown from not only the defense but stellar rookie return man, Chimere Dike as well, as he took a punt to the house for a touchdown. The defense and special teams each outscored the offense, which could only manage two field goals from their efforts. Dike has returned a kick and a punt this year for 65+ yards.
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