The AFC South, 2026 Season

[Oldcolt]

There is a better chance that none of these things happen than all of them happen.

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

There is a better chance that none of these things happen than all of them happen.

Sure, but there's a much better chance that most of those things happen than none of them happening.

And we wouldn't need all of them to happen to make the playoffs, win the division, or frankly, even be the #1 seed.

[Oldcolt]

First off thanks for interacting with me Chaos. We have a game tonight, lots being discussed about the team in the news but this board is dead. Mimics the excitement (low) that most of us probably feel for the season. I feel like there is a greater chance that most of those things don't pan out. However if Daniel Jones and our cornerback situation stay great and healthy we definitely can make the playoffs. That isnt enough for me. I want us to realistically have a shot to win it all. We don't have to win it all, I just want to go into a playoff with some hope to come out a winner with other than a miracle needed. It isnt our of the question but is a very low probability (10%?).

For tonights game, we need a backup QB desperately if we want to make a real run. Ill be interested in seeing who looks less shitty, AR or Leonard. Both have issues but lets hope one of them stands out. Unfortunately i have no faith in this group of talent evaluators getting it right except through blind luck.

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

First off thanks for interacting with me Chaos. We have a game tonight, lots being discussed about the team in the news but this board is dead. Mimics the excitement (low) that most of us probably feel for the season. I feel like there is a greater chance that most of those things don't pan out. However if Daniel Jones and our cornerback situation stay great and healthy we definitely can make the playoffs. That isnt enough for me. I want us to realistically have a shot to win it all. We don't have to win it all, I just want to go into a playoff with some hope to come out a winner with other than a miracle needed. It isnt our of the question but is a very low probability (10%?).

For tonights game, we need a backup QB desperately if we want to make a real run. Ill be interested in seeing who looks less shitty, AR or Leonard. Both have issues but lets hope one of them stands out. Unfortunately i have no faith in this group of talent evaluators getting it right except through blind luck.

I would say the main thing to potentially derail us is injuries. That's bad because it's up to the football gods who they bite. But it's also good in that, if they stay healthy, the roster is good enough to compete with the best teams.

Better than the alternative of a bad roster in need of turnover. What gives me optimism is the way the team competed against some of the best teams prior to catastrophe striking.

I just don't see the logic in reviewing the evidence of 7-1, including DEN, LAC, and a nailbiter with LAR and shrugging those 8 games off to instead treat the PIT game as if it was the truth and not more of an outlier. And that then leading to treating the final 7 games as inevitable - would have happened anyway.

I don't buy it at all. I think, as has been the case for years, we have some really good gears (roster) and need a central cog (competent QB) to make those gears turn.

That central cog doesn't need to be diamond-coated titanium... we don't need the second coming of Manning... it just needs to not be warped and chipped.

[CletusPyle]

As the true glutton for punishment that I am, I am back for another season. I totally melted down at the end of last season, I probably owe apologies to several people but I really just want to move on and forget about last year and start a new one with a fresh outlook. My main concern this season is DJ staying healthy, if he does this team has a chance for 10+ wins, without him I don't give us much if any chance of making the playoffs....again!

Texans will win the division, the real question is can the Colts beat out the Jaguars? With a healthy DJ we have a chance, but there are scenarios where 3 teams from the South make the playoffs, but other teams have gotten better and realistically I don't see that happening.

Anyway, I am going to keep my expectations low and regardless of what happens, try not to get too emotional about changes at the top!

[apballin]

Richardson looks terrible

[IndyNorm]

Originally Posted by apballin

Richardson looks terrible

So's the new TV service. Buffering like crazy . Hoping it's fixed by the time the regular season starts, but having my doubts.

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by apballin

Richardson looks terrible

Richardson looks like he’s always looked. Which is terrible, with the added bonus of always wondering when he’s going to get hurt(he came up gimpy after that 2nd down run).

He is who he is at this point. He’s a very bad quarterback. Which is why we can’t get a 7th round pick for him.

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

I view "everything goes perfectly" as each questionable situation has a 90th percentile or better outcome.

That would look something like:

- Daniel Jones misses at most 2 games and performs at the level he was performing in the first 8 games of last season.

- Alec Pierce takes on an increased target share and continues to produce at a similar YPC level with 20-30 more catches.

- Josh Downs takes on an increased target share and improves his YPC, having over 1,000 yards and at least close to 100 catches.

- Tyler Warren plays at an All-Pro level and has over 1,000 yards and close to 100 catches.

- The OL is elite across the board, with Matt Goncalves and Jalen Travis establishing themselves as top end starters.

- Laiatu Latu becomes one of the elite pass rushers in the NFL, getting 12+ sacks and being top 10 in pressures and pressure rate in the NFL.

- DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart miss no time, and Buckner plays at an All-Pro level, getting 10+ sacks or close to it.

- CJ Allen competes for defensive rookie of the year, and has a rookie statline similar to 2018 Darius Leonard.

- Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward missed less than 2 games combined, and both play at All-Pro level.

- Cam Bynum and A.J. Haulcy are both turnover machines and ballhawks.

- The offense and defense are both Top 5 in EPA per play.


You're telling me the ceiling on that team is 10 wins? That looks like a 13-14 win #1 seed to me.

If all that happens, I’ll give you my left nut. And that’s the healthy one.

[CletusPyle]

No way that stands....even in preseason the Cheats get all the calls!