Friday 19 February 2016 18:01, UK
Only one side in the AFC South managed to record a winning season but even the Texans didn't fare too well. Here's our ratings...
A real 'Jekyll and Hyde' campaign for the Texans, with a 3-5 record before their bye week and then a 6-2 record following it. After the break they allowed a league-best 13.5 points per game, with only defeats at the Bills and Patriots to their name, hardly embarrassing. That word could certainly be used to describe a couple of early season defeats though; a 48-21 reverse to the Falcons - they were trailing 42-0 at one stage - allowing four rushing touchdowns, three of them to Devonta Freeman; and a 44-26 defeat to the Dolphins - down 41-0 at the half - with Ryan Tannehill throwing four touchdowns and Lamar Miller rushing for 175 yards and one score.
Despite their stirring second-half of the season, the quarterback position continued to be a problem for the Texans, as they worked their way through the much-of-a-muchness journeyman smattering of Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, TJ Yates and Brandon Weeden. Surprisingly they were enough to see them still win a weak division and earn a playoff berth, where their offensive struggles would see them shut-out by the Chiefs, suffering a 30-0 loss on Wildcard Weekend.
Star player: The supreme JJ Watt, who else? Houston's one-man wrecking ball picked up 17.5 sacks for the season, taking his tally over the past four years to a staggering 69, in which time he has won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award three times, including this year, seeing him retain the title.
Grade: B. A disappointment overall but given the lack of talent on offence, particularly at the quarterback position, managing to make the playoffs sees them earn a solid B.
Injury to Andrew Luck derailed Indianapolis' season although when Luck went down he was actually in the middle of his worst season as a Colt, having thrown 12 picks in his seven starts - consider he threw 18 across 16 starts in his rookie year. Having said that, Luck was coming off arguably his best performance of the season when he went down for the year, throwing for 252 yards and two touchdowns to lead his team to a 27-24 win over eventual Super Bowl champs, Denver in week nine.
Veteran 40-year-old quarterback Matt Hasselbeck performed admirably in relief of Luck, leading the Colts to a 5-3 record in games he started, with a solid 60.9 completion percentage and nine touchdowns to five interceptions. It helped keep them in contention for a playoff spot before that charge was ultimately extinguished with a three-game skid culminating in a 16-10 loss to division-rivals Houston in week 15.
Star player: Star performers were few and far between, disappointing given the expensive off-season additions of veterans Frank Gore and Andre Johnson, the latter a particular disappointment. Instead it was unheralded oldie, Hasselbeck, who was arguably their best performer, keeping the side afloat after Luck's injury.
Grade: D. Given their off-season activity, and AFC Championship berth the previous year, expectations were high, and an 8-8 record is someway short of those lofty ambitions, and sees them get a D.
Another season of much promise, but still little delivery from this Jaguars squad. Perennially tipped as 'dark horses' for the playoffs, 'ones to watch', or post-season 'sleepers' this talented team continue to struggle to make that next step. The defence went backwards if anything, giving up the second-most points in franchise history (448) although, on offence, a few players certainly did kick on this year, quarterback Blake Bortles in particular.
Bortles stormed passed his rookie season totals of 2,908 yards throwing, 11 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, with his 2015 season stats rather impressively reading 4,428 yards, and 35 touchdowns eclipsing 18 picks. What helped the big-armed QB to such lofty heights was the dynamic 'Allen' duo at wide receiver, Allen Robinson - selected to the Pro Bowl - and Allen Hurns. One of the offence's most explosive performances came in a 51-16 demolition of division-rivals Indianapolis, with Bortles' three TDs helping end a 16-game losing streak to the Colts.
Star player: Bortles displayed the impressive arm strength which encouraged the Jaguars to draft him third overall in the 2014 Draft. There are still question marks surrounding certain areas of this team, but crucially the quarterback position is no longer one of them.
Grade: C-. Ultimately still a disappointing campaign in Jacksonville. You sense they are close to mounting a challenge though and so a C- mark should encourage greater success next year.
The worst team in football in 2015. Coach Ken Whisenhunt was fired mid-season and General Manager Ruston Webster let go as soon as it ended. Their dismal efforts have at least earned them the number one pick in the 2016 Draft. There they can look to address a number of positions, but at least they no longer have to look for a quarterback after Marcus Mariota had a fine rookie campaign - although some weapons for the young signal caller would be nice.
Things got off to such a great start, with Mariota throwing for four touchdowns in a debut 42-10 win over the Buccaneers and fellow rookie quarterback Jameis Winston, his efforts seeing him join Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton as the only two players to throw four or more TDs in their first NFL game. The Titans' two other wins for the season also saw hot streaks from their flashy new QB, another four-touchdown - and 371-yard - effort downing the Saints 34-28, and a 42-39 win over the Jaguars coming courtesy of three passing TDs and one rushing, as he put up 112 yards on nine runs.
Star player: Marcus Mariota, their rookie quarterback, was the only ray of light in a miserable year.
Grade: F. The league's worst team must receive the harshest grade. Despite some dazzling displays by Mariota which show promise, it's Detention, and an F.
