Last season, ESPN reported that the Jacksonville Jaguars were the second biggest surprise of the season behind the Los Angeles Rams and their stunning 11-5 season and NFC West crown. Jacksonville produced a 10-6 season, an AFC South title, and an AFC Championship game appearance where they were eight minutes away from appearing in Super Bowl LII before being eliminated by New England in transcendent Tom Brady fashion.

Jacksonville’s defense was the real surprise last season, finishing second overall and first against the pass in 2017 thanks to Pro Bowl seasons from corners Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye. Tennessee won the division in 2017 where they promptly dealt Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs another post-season meltdown in the wild-card round before being defeated by New England in the divisional round 35-14.

Andrew Luck didn’t play a snap last season with Indianapolis finishing 4-12. Rookie DeShaun Watson was electric for six weeks before tearing his ACL in October 2017 with the Texans also finishing 4-12.

Who’s the favorite heading into the 2018 NFL Season in a division where every team has questions at QB, the NFL's most important position?

Watson being projected to start Week 1

The Texans will be returning two stars to action this upcoming season, DeShaun Watson, and All-Pro DE J.J. Watt. The questions are when they will return and their effectiveness. Though Watt will be playing his age 29 season in 2018, injuries have forced him to miss 24 games the past two seasons.

The three-time NFL defensive player of the year is a game changer when healthy and Houston is still waiting to pair Watt with two- time Pro Bowler Jadaveon Clowney and unleash a ferocious end attack on opposing QBs for an entire 16 game season.

ProFootballRumors mentioned that WR DeAndre Hopkins established the market for WR with his 5-year $81MM deal with $49MM in guarantees while rookie DeShaun Watson simply dazzled in 2017 during his short stint and if he returns fully healthy Week 1, the Texans are the favorite for the division.

Andrew Luck has yet to throw a football

The Colts say Luck will be ready for the start of the 2018 NFL season though he has yet to throw a football since experiencing pain in 2017 and being shut down. The Colts relied on patch-work QB Jacoby Brissett, acquired from New England in exchange for WR Phillip Dorsett, during their 4-12 2017 campaign.

During the 2018 Draft, Indianapolis moved down in the first round and ended up selecting Notre Dame G Quenton Nelson sixth overall.

The Colts ended up picking three times in the second round thanks to their trade with the New York Jets, a team coveting a QB, and addressed LB, G, and DE but this is a roster with a lot of holes and without Andrew Luck, they really have no chance in 2018.

Jacksonville expected to regress

QB Blake Bortles remains a paradox yet his 2017 campaign was good enough for a new contract, signing a 3-year, $54MM contract with $26.5MM in guarantees. Bortles came on strong toward the end of the 2017 season, beat the Bills in the wild-card round with his legs, throwing for just 87 yards and a TD in the Jaguars’ 10-3 win.

The fifth-year QB threw for 213 yards and a score in Jacksonville’s surprise upset over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round 45-42.

Executive Vice President Tom Coughlin felt comfortable enough to offer Bortles $18 million annually and this year, there’s pressure to perform. Everyone expects Jacksonville’s defense to perform at the same level or above in 2018.

Everyone expects the offense to improve with second-year RB Leonard Fournette healthy for 16 games and an improved offensive line through the free agent signing of stud G Andrew Norwell. Expectations can carry a heavy load creating pressure, one of the things making this upcoming season so fascinating because there are so many teams, especially in the NFC, with high expectations.

Tennessee expected to contend

The Titans, under new head coach Mike Vrabel, are a favorite to repeat as AFC South Champion.

Fourth-year QB Marcus Mariota’s fifth-year option has been exercised and perhaps this is the year Mariota remains fully healthy for 16 games. The Titans said goodbye to RB DeMarco Murray, paving the way for third-year RB Derrick Henry to take over the backfield, even with the signing of RB Dion Lewis from New England.

LB Rashaan Evans and pass rusher Harold Landry were added in the first two rounds of the draft, filling holes exposed by New England in the Titans' divisional round loss to New England 35-14 where Tennessee was torched by Tom Brady for 337 yards and 3 TDs.

A team making the playoffs and changing head coaches perhaps shows some instability within the organization where all eyes are on Marcus Mariota, second-year WR Corey Davis, and new head coach Mike Vrabel. Anything less than a second straight playoff appearance will be a disappointment in Nashville.