The Colts Will Win The AFC South

I can’t prove it but I think the Colts are going to shock the football world in a few weeks.

I think they’re going to win the AFC South, an insane thought a not too long ago when the Colts lost to the Tennessee Titans 34-31 in overtime, getting swept in the season series. Since then, the Titans have lost Derrick Henry and most recently have dropped three of their last four games. For the Colts, they’ve rattled off five wins in their last six games, seen Jonathan Taylor become a legit MVP candidate and have seen a once daunting schedule seemingly break their way.

The true test of my prediction will come this week when the Titans host the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football while the Colts have a Christmas Day night showdown with the Arizona Cardinals in the desert. The 49ers have been about as week-to-week as any team in the NFL this season, dealing with big injuries and struggling to find any consistency, yet there they are at 8-6 and currently the 6th seed in a very top-heavy NFC. They can give the Titans a run for their money, despite flying across the country but the Titans also can feel the pitter patter of the surging Colts starting to creep up on their heels.

The Colts take on Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. The Cardinals were the breakout team in the NFL to start the season but have plummeted back to Earth after their disastrous loss to the lowly Detroit Lions. The Cardinals are banged up with star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins out for the season barring a deep playoff run and J.J. Watt already done. Their defense is not nearly as good as it appeared in the early going and they are quickly falling down the NFC playoff standings after back-to-back losses. Both the Cardinals and Colts need this game. The Colts need to contain Murray’s ability to extend plays while the Colts need to continue to ride on the back of Jonathan Taylor.

Like I said. This week will determine a lot in the AFC South.

Looking ahead: The Colts take on the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars while the Titans finish the season with the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans. To me, this favors the Colts as well. Yes, the Raiders are in the thick of the AFC playoffs but they currently sit at 7-7 and are on the outside looking in with a brutal final three games against the Broncos, Colts & Chargers. I have full confidence the Colts can Derek Carr and company in Week 16 and the now Urban Meyer-less Jacksonville Jaguars will be completely packed in by the final game. The Titans have a now not so easy game against the Miami Dolphins, who have gone from 1-7 to 7-7 thanks to a six-game winning streak and a defense that has shut down opponents in recent weeks. I don’t think that’s the cake walk we all thought it was a few weeks ago. Same goes for the Texans. Yes, they’re bad but they also have the ability to put together games and shock opponents, just like they did to the Titans three weeks ago.

This premise relies on my belief that the Colts can run the table and the Titans are going to falter after seemingly wrapping up the division back on Halloween. My biggest worry is this week’s games but I also feel more confident in the Colts’ ability to hang with and beat the Cardinals than I did a month ago.

Call me crazy but I think they’ve found their swagger at the right time. Maybe I’ve watched one too many episodes of Ted Lasso and I’ve got the feel good optimistic vibes bubbling inside me. I could look like an idiot in a matter of days but I’m willing to take that gamble on the Colts right now. I welcome the “told ya so” tweets if that’s the case but I don’t think it will be. Buckle up Colts fans, I think we’re in for a fun ride these next three games.