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When Clubber Lang was asked for a prediction in Rocky III, the response was delivered without hesitation or mercy. One word.
Pain.
For the Tennessee Titans, that assessment feels painfully accurate.
Another season has ended in disappointment in Nashville after a 3 14 campaign that left the Titans buried in the cellar of the AFC South. Pain has become routine rather than dramatic. Adding salt to the wound will be watching Mike Vrabel, once the embodiment of the franchise’s toughness, patrol a sideline in the conference title game elsewhere.
Tennessee owns the fourth overall pick in April’s draft, and the temptation will be to surround Cam Ward with offensive weapons. But the numbers are unforgiving. The Titans defense allowed 55 touchdowns and surrendered 345 yards per game. Until that unit is repaired, no amount of offensive optimism will alter the trajectory.
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Houston continues to present the division’s most stable foundation.
The Texans allowed just 35 touchdowns, and the backbone of that defense remains intact, assuming Will Anderson Jr secures an expected extension. The more pressing question in H Town is whether C J Stroud can rediscover the rhythm and command that defined his rookie season. It is less about arm talent and more about poise, the confidence that once appeared effortless.
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There is also the lingering concern surrounding Joe Mixon and his foot injury, which stalled Houston’s running game. The Texans must restore balance offensively, ideally pairing a power back with the complementary skill set of Woody Marks.
In Indianapolis, uncertainty dominates the conversation.
Anthony Richardson’s regression has become one of the league’s more puzzling developments. The former fourth overall pick could be on the move as the Colts attempt to replenish draft capital after dealing their first round pick to the Jets. A reset appears inevitable for both sides.
And finally, the champs.
Jacksonville’s offseason will be shaped by the Travises. Travis Hunter’s health and long term positional future will command attention, as will the decision on whether Travis Etienne remains part of the franchise’s plans. In Duval, clarity cannot come soon enough. Until those questions are resolved, the picture remains slightly out of focus.
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One division. Four franchises. Very different definitions of pain, promise, and pressure as the offseason begins.
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