Inside: OurAFC South preview, where a previously forgettable division has at least three contenders in the Jaguars, Texans and Colts. Plus: NFL football tonight! Sort of!This article is from The Athletic’s NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox. It’s free to subscribe. AFC South PreviewThe Texans arrived in 2002, forcing the league to rethink everything, including divisions. That led to the creation of the AFC South, which added the Colts (formerly in the AFC East), Jaguars (AFC Central) and Titans (AFC Central).It hasn’t been a strong group. Among divisions, the AFC South has the lowest winning percentage (.476) and the longest Super Bowl drought (19 years), and it is the only group with multiple teams (Jaguars and Texans) to never make a Super Bowl.But things are looking up. The Jaguars and Texans were among the AFC’s top teams last year, while the Colts started 8-2 before a rash of injuries led to a late-season collapse. Tennessee has … fresh new jerseys? Cam Ward?Jacksonville Jaguars(13-4, lost in wild-card round)Headline change: Lost veterans. Star linebacker Devin Lloyd signed with the Panthers, running back Travis Etienne is in New Orleans, and corner Greg Newsome joined the Giants. The Jaguars filled those gaps with internal talent, which means players such as running back Bhayshul Tuten are breakout candidates.Subtle change: Continuity. As the above chart makes clear, every projected starter was on the roster last season. That consistency is invaluable for coach Liam Coen, an elite play caller whose Jaguars started 4-3 and averaged 20.9 points per game until settling in. They then became the NFL’s hottest team, finishing 9-1 and ranking second in points per game (32.8) after Week 8, with wins over the Broncos and Chargers.Lingering question: What will Travis Hunter offer? The Jaguars need help in the secondary and are expected to play Hunter at cornerback on a full-time basis, with occasional reps at receiver. He is noticeably bigger than last season, which should help the dual-threat stay healthy.Projection: 10-7. This team will be tested early next season, facing the Broncos, Patriots, Bengals, Eagles and Texans before Week 7. But after the Jaguars finished one fourth-down stop away from beating the Bills in the postseason, don’t be surprised to see Jacksonville finish with double-digit wins for the second consecutive season, a first for the franchise in the 2000s.Houston Texans(12-5, lost in divisional round)Headline: C.J. Stroud’s prove-it year. It’s easy to blame surroundings for Stroud’s continued regression, but backup QB Davis Mills was 3-0 as a starter last season with wins against the Jaguars, Bills and Titans. The 25-year-old Stroud has to bounce back from last year’s playoff catastrophe. This defense deserves better.Subtle: Revamped interior line. The Texans reached on center Keylan Rutledge in this year’s first round, signed three-time Pro Bowl guard Wyatt Teller and signed eight-year veteran Braden Smith from the Colts to play right tackle. That should help Stroud operate comfortably from the pocket. More importantly, it’ll help their run game.