I agree this season won’t be a cake walk. We’re all expecting 10+ wins, and to win the division, and go to the playoffs. We could come out in week 1 and blow the Colts out, or Richardson could have 2 TD runs of 50 yards and we lose by 14 points and get off to a slow start.

The Jaguars are still a 9-8 football team and the entire division got better this offseason with Richardson as the Colts QB and they also have one of the premier RBs in all of football who put up over 1,000 yards in 11 games last year in Jonathan Taylor. In 2021 Taylor put up over 2100 yards of offense including 1800 yards rushing behind 3 time All Pro and 5 time pro bowler Quenton Nelson. Minshew is also capable of getting the Colts off to a quick start while Richardson plays a Lamar Jackson/Joe Flacco type role until he’s ready to be the full time starter. WR Michael Pittman has 187 receptions over the last 2 seasons with 2007 yards receiving and 10 TDs.

The Texans got better with Anderson, who could wreck a game and they got their QB of the future in CJ Stroud. Their defensive line could be stout with Anderson and Hughes, who had 9 sacks last year. The guy to watch out for is the safety Pitre. He was up for defensive rookie of the year and led the Texans in tackles with 147 and also led the team with 5 interceptions. He should be even better with the addition of Anderson. This same defense beat the Jaguars last year in week 5, holding the Jaguars to 6 points.

The Titans almost won in week 18 with backup QB Dobbs. Tannehill plus Hopkins will make these games much tougher. Derrick Henry is still capable of 200 yards and 3 TDs in any game. Henry rushed over 100 yards in both games against the Jaguars last year. They also added WR D. Hop which will boost their offense. Their defensive line is very good. Between Simmons, Landry, Tart and Autry they have 28.5 sacks and then the add Arden Key who will be a starter over there. Arden Key impacts the game that don’t show up on that stat sheet. Safety Kevin Byard is a 2 time All Pro and has 27 ints since 2017 and he racked up over 100 tackles last year for the 2nd time in his career. They also have a roster littered with guys that have been selected as an All Pro and/or Pro Bowl in their careers:

Henry - All Pro
Hopkins - All Pro
Byard - All Pro
Cox - All Pro
Jones - Pro Bowl
Landry - Pro Bowl

We open up with the Colts, then the Chiefs, then the Texans. Later on down the line we got Josh Allen and the Bills, Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase and the Bengals, Pittsburgh, San Fran, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, the Panthers and first overall pick Bryce Young.

Throw in Cleveland with Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb, Myles Garrett, Amari Cooper. Myles Garrett and Za’darius Smith combined for 26 sacks last year.

We also have New Orleans with Derek Carr who could sneak up on you at anytime.

Still have to go out and earn every win. “Any team can beat any team.”

- Stat Man

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