Read the arguments from Bleacher Fan and Loyal Homer about which NFL division has been the most surprising.
The AFC South – home of the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans – has been the most surprising division in the NFL during the 2009 season. The division has some of the most explosive playmakers and teams in the NFL. After 14 weeks, the AFC South can boast the only unbeaten team (the Indianapolis Colts), one of the biggest turnarounds in the NFL (the resurgent Tennessee Titans), and a division where every single team is still in the playoff hunt. The AFC South is the division to watch in 2009.
By now everyone knows the Colts can win, but few would have anticipated the Colts to march to perfection over the course of 23 regular season wins dating back to November 2nd, 2008. The Colts have won squeakers, like the one point nail biting victory in week ten over the New England Patriots, and they have won blowouts like the 42-6 spanking of the St. Louis Rams in week seven. Yes, the fact that the Colts are winning is no big surprise, but who would have thought that a Dungy-less Colts team would be chasing perfection with just two more games to go? What’s more is that the 2009 Colts have been dominant with a cast of new characters. Peyton Manning has had to reach out to fresh, new targets like Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon (those are fun names) since his all-time leading receiver Marvin Harrison departed for Jacksonville and his up-and-coming number two receiver, Anthony Gonzalez, was banged up early on in the season. Manning’s ability to maintain his elite level of play, despite the shifting circumstances in Indy, has cemented his status as a living legend. Who doesn’t want to watch master at work?
Fans of the Tennessee Titans have been on a roller coaster ride of a season during 2009. Just one season earlier, the Titans seemed to be proving to be a powerhouse in the division – thanks in no small part to the resurgence of a running game with new comer Chris Johnson – but the ride derailed this season when the team went winless through the first six games. Then after a bye in week seven the Titans started to play like, well, Titans, and the team found the right track. What’s more shocking is that Vince Young shook off his existential funk and started to play winning football. Young rose above personal bouts with uncertainty about his future and rumors of suicidal tendencies to guide the Titans to win seven of the last eight games. The Titans’ wild ride has been one to watch this season, and who knows where it will take them – maybe to another Music City Miracle.
The Jaguars, Texans, and Titans have been playing scrappy football to stay in contention. All three teams own 7-7 records, putting them in the hunt for one of the remaining playoff spots. The uncertainty surrounding any playoff hopes makes each one of these teams desperate and dangerous. Still even more drama surrounds this division, as Texans head coach Gary Kubiak is not just fighting for the playoffs and relevance within the division, but also his future with the team. Team leaders and explosive players like Andre Johnson, Maurice Jones Drew, and Chris Johnson are pushing their teams to produce, and its making for great football. These playmakers have always had lots of potential and upside, but it seems like they are all living up to their potential this season. Other divisions may have Lions and Tigers and Bears, but all the “Oh My”s are coming from the AFC South in 2009.
