AFC South Week Thirteen Update: Good Week for the Division

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 (6-6)

Place: 2nd

Last Week:  Won 45-21 over the Tennessee Titans

This Week: at the Jacksonville Jaguars

The Texans hosted the terrible Titans, and Houston completely beat them up.  The Texans jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead and would go on to win 45-21 behind dominating performances by J.J. Watt, DeAndre Hopkins, and… Ryan Fitzpatrick.  Watt recorded 3 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 tackle for loss, 6 quarterback hits, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, and caught a touchdown pass - his third of the season.  Hopkins, the second year receiver, caught 9 passes for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns - putting him over 1,000 yards receiving in a season for the first time in his career.  Fitzpatrick, who returned to the starting lineup due to the season-ending injury to Ryan Mallett, completed 24 of 33 passes for 358 yards and 6 touchdowns without an interception.  Furthermore, running back Arian Foster rushed for 79 yards on 19 carries.  In every single category - yards, turnovers, third down conversions, etc. - the Texans absolutely dominated the Titans, getting to 6-6 on the year and showing once again that they're closer to the top of the division than the bottom.

Tennessee Titans (2-10)

Place: 3rd

Last Week: Lost 21-45 to the Houston Texans

This Week: Host the New York Giants

Is it possible that the worst team in the AFC South actually isn't the Jaguars?  I really think it might be the Titans, who fell to 2-10 on the season with their blowout loss to the Texans on Sunday.  Tennessee committed four turnovers while allowing 45 points.  They managed just two offensive scores, though also adding a fumble recovery for a touchdown.  Rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger was injured during the game, and Jake Locker came in but didn't have any better luck.  One bright spot from the game was Kendall Wright, who caught 7 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown, but overall it was a very dismal day from a very bad team.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)

Place: 4th

Last Week: Won 25-24 over the New York Giants

This Week: Host the Houston Texans

The Giants jumped out to a 21-0 second quarter lead in Jacksonville and the game looked all but over at that point.  The Jaguars, however, didn't stop fighting, and they outscored the Giants 25-3 over the rest of the game to win 25-24 on a Josh Scobee 43-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining.  Rookie Blake Bortles had an efficient day, completing 21 of 34 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown without a pick and adding 68 yards rushing on 5 carries, but the Jaguars were really powered by their defense.  J.T. Thomas and Aaron Colvin both recovered fumbles for touchdowns and the Jaguars won the turnover battle 3-0.  For a team that entered the day with just one win on the season, it was a very impressive fight from them after falling behind big early, and the Jaguars mounted a 21-point comeback to notch their second win of the season.

Indianapolis Colts (8-4)

Place: 1st

Last Week: Won 49-27 over the Washington Redskins

This Week: at the Cleveland Browns

Andrew Luck threw for a career-high five touchdown passes and the Colts put up 49 points, their most in a game since 2004.  That makes for a pretty good afternoon as the Colts improved to 8-4.  Luck completed 19 of 27 passes for 370 yards, 5 touchdowns with a pick while also adding 20 yards rushing.  Boom Herron rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown on 8 carries.  Donte Moncrief caught 3 passes for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns and Coby Fleener caught 4 passes for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns.  The Colts recorded six sacks on the Redskins, including two from Erik Walden, and D'Qwell Jackson returned a fumble for a touchdown.  Despite losing the turnover battle, the Colts won big at home over a bad Redskins team.  With a win on Sunday over the Browns and a Texans loss to the Jaguars, the Colts would already clinch the AFC South.