NFL Midseason Report Card: AFC South

With the first half of the NFL season over, here is a look at how each AFC South team performed with respect to preseason expectations:

Indianapolis Colts (8-0): A+

It isn't hard to grade a Colts team that is sitting undefeated at the mid-way point of the season. The Colts have been the beneficiaries of a division that has gone from one of the toughest, with three possible playoff contenders, to one of the weakest with the fall of Jacksonville and Tennessee. Manning has been superb, even in the absence of Anthony Gonzales and Marvin Harrison this season. While the passing game is tops in the NFL, most Colts fans would like to see improvement out of their running game, especially if the Colts have to play a cold weather game in the playoffs. Of course, if they keep winning, they should be "dome sweet dome" come playoff time. The Colts will likely clinch the division with a few weeks to spare, which will help in keeping the team healthy heading into the playoffs.

Houston Texans (5-4): B

Like the Colts, the Texans have been all passing with little production in the run game. Unlike the Colts, the Texans have lost four games. When considering expectations heading into the season, the Texans have been about on par with most predictions, if not slightly better. They no longer look like an expansion team, but do still have a lot of young talent. The Texans haven't been able to quite put everything together, but they do have wins against some quality opponents early in the year. With the exception of remaining games against the Colts and Patriots, the Texans appear to have a relatively easy schedule in the second half of the season, which could propel them into making a late playoff run.

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4): C

The Jaguars have been hot and cold all season. Some games they play really well, while others they forget to show up (see 41-0 loss to Seattle). For years it seems that the Jaguars have been right on the cusp of being a playoff threat, but this year they are likely to fall short. With one of the worst defenses in the league, the Jaguars have relied on a strong running game and better than average passing game to keep them in games. The defense has been scorched for 362 yards per game in the first half of the season, placing them at 23rd in the NFL. With as much talent as the Jaguars have on offense, expectations were certainly higher than 4-4 at this point in the season, but the Jaguars haven't proven that they are much more than a .500 ball club. The second half of the season looks difficult for the Jaguars, and without a much improved defense, they will be hovering around .500 all season.

Tennessee Titans (2-6): F

Is there a bigger disappointment this season than the Titans? After starting 10-0 in 2008, the Titans started the season 0-6 in 2009, including a 0-59 embarrassment against the New England Patriots. Coach Jeff Fisher is the longest tenured coach in the NFL, but his job could be in serious jeopardy if things don't get turned around quickly. The Titans biggest problem early in the season has been a lack of quarterback play from Kerry Collins, who has since been replaced by Vince Young. Young has gone 2-0 since regaining the starting role, but his ability to create a legitimate passing threat is still in doubt. Defensively, the Titans clearly miss Albert Haynesworth, but it is their secondary that has been getting torched. The Titans rank last in the league in pass defense, giving up nearly 280 yards per game. Look for the Titans to play closer to .500 in the second half of the season, but still wind up with only six or seven wins.