AFC South Week Fifteen Update: Colts are Division Champions

The Colts won this weekend, but how did the rest of the division do?  Let's take a look at how each of the four teams in the division fared:

Houston Texans (7-7)

Place: 2nd

Last Week:  Lost 10-17 to the Indianapolis Colts

This Week: Host the Baltimore Ravens

In their biggest game of the year, the Texans couldn't mange to pull out their first ever win in Indianapolis, falling to the division-leading Colts 17-10.  The Texans' defense held Indy's high-powered offense to just 17 points and 278 total yards while allowing the Colts to convert just 2 of 12 third down opportunities, but ultimately a struggling Texans' offense couldn't do enough to win.  In fact, their offense netted just three points all day, as their defense provided their lone touchdown on a pick-six.  Ryan Fitzpatrick was injured and lost for the year, so in stepped Tom Savage to make his NFL debut.  He showed promise at times, completing 10 of 19 passes for 127 yards with a pick, but he couldn't lead the offense to enough points to upset a struggling Colts' team.  Arian Foster averaged just 3.8 yards per carry and gained 99 yards total rushing, and J.J. Watt was again great, notching six tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and a pass deflection.  Houston's defense wasn't the problem in this one - it was the offense, and they couldn't do enough to prevent the Colts from winning the division title.

Tennessee Titans (2-12)

Place: 3rd

Last Week: Lost 11-16 to the New York Jets

This Week: at the Jacksonville Jaguars

In a game that was filled with quite a bit of terrible football, the Titans lost to the New York Jets at home 16-11 to continue a miserable season that has many saying the Titans are the worst team in the NFL.  At halftime, the Titans held a 5-3 lead (yeah, seriously, 5-3) but the Jets scored the game's only two touchdowns in the second half to win it.  Quarterback Jake Locker was injured and is done for the season, likely ending his career with the Titans.  Charlie Whitehurst stepped in and completed 10 of 24 passes for 203 yards.  Nate Washington caught 6 passes for 102 yards while Delanie Walker caught 4 passes for 93 yards.  Ryan Succop hit all three of his field goal attempts, which along with a safety were the only scores of the day for the Titans.  Next up: a trip to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football in a game that will very likely decide who finishes in last place in the division.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)

Place: 4th

Last Week: Lost 12-20 to the Baltimore Ravens

This Week: Host the Tennessee Titans

Speaking of the Jaguars, they lost again, keeping them in last place in the division (for now).  They held a 12-10 halftime lead over the Ravens, but Baltimore outscored the Jaguars 10-0 in the second half to win 20-12.  Blake Bortles completed 21 of 37 passes for 210 yards with a pick, and the offense was never able to get the ball into the end zone.  Josh Scobee hit four of five field goals to give the Jaguars their twelve points, but at some point they needed a touchdown.  The Ravens blocked a punt and scored a touchdown that way, and they also sacked Bortles eight times.  The Jaguars host the Titans on Thursday night in a game that won't impact much besides the draft order.

Indianapolis Colts (10-4)

Place: 1st

Last Week: Won 17-10 over the Houston Texans

This Week: at the Dallas Cowboys

The Colts' offense struggled at home against the second-place Texans, but led by a defense that allowed only three points the Colts won 17-10, and in doing so clinched their second straight AFC South title.  Andrew Luck completed just 18 of 34 passes for 187 yards, two touchdowns and a pick (that the Texans took back for a touchdown) and the offense seemed out of sync all day, but some clutch running by Boom Herron late and a strong defensive performance led the Colts to their tenth win of the season.  They travel to Dallas this week to take on the Cowboys, a game that will be a great test for the Colts before the playoffs.  Indy secured the division title and a home playoff game, though they didn't look pretty doing so.