The AFC South standings look a little different after Week Seven of the 2026 NFL season, but the division’s biggest story is what did not happen. The Jacksonville Jaguars watched from home during their bye week as all three division rivals suffered losses on Sunday.
The Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans each had a chance to gain ground on Jacksonville. Instead, all three teams came up short, leaving the Jaguars in control of the division heading into Week Eight.
Jacksonville sits alone atop the AFC South standings at 4-2, while Indianapolis and Houston are tied at 2-5. Tennessee remains in last place at 1-6. As the second half of the season approaches, the Jaguars have created breathing room in a division where the other three teams struggle to find consistency.
AFC South Standings After Week Seven
- Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) Bye week
- Indianapolis Colts (2-5) Lost 16-10 vs. Minnesota Vikings
- Houston Texans (2-5) Lost 27-21 OT vs. New York Giants
- Tennessee Titans (1-6) Lost 27-24 vs. Cleveland Browns
Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-2
Jacksonville received the best possible outcome during its Week Seven bye. The Jaguars remain the only AFC South team above .500, and their division lead grew without taking a snap.
The Jaguars entered their bye after a disappointing 34-31 loss to Houston in London. Despite the defeat, Jacksonville has established itself as the team to beat in the division, with victories over the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has helped lead the offense, throwing 14 touchdown passes through the team’s first six games. The Jaguars have also received production from wide receiver Parker Washington, who entered the bye with 416 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Jacksonville’s next challenge arrives in Week Eight when it hosts Indianapolis. The matchup gives the Jaguars an opportunity to strengthen their division lead while earning their first victory against an AFC South opponent this season. Although the Jaguars have work to do before securing a playoff spot, their position is considerably more comfortable after a week in which every division rival lost.
Indianapolis Colts: 2-5
The Colts missed another opportunity to turn their season around, losing 16-10 to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Indianapolis entered the matchup hoping to build momentum after a difficult stretch that included a loss to Tennessee in Week Six. Instead, the Colts managed to squeak ten points against Minnesota’s Brian Flores-ran defense and missed two second-half field goals.
The loss dropped Indianapolis to 2-5, leaving the team tied with Houston for second place in the AFC South. While the Colts remain within striking distance of Jacksonville, their recent performances have made the path back to contention increasingly difficult.
Quarterback Daniel Jones also faces mounting pressure to help stabilize an offense that has struggled to produce consistently. After a promising start to the season, Indianapolis has now lost three consecutive games. Granted, the Colts have been without their two top receiving threats, Alec Pierce and Tyler Warren.
Regardless, the Colts cannot afford to let the losing streak continue. Their Week Eight matchup against Jacksonville offers an opportunity to cut into the division lead, but another defeat would put them further behind the team they are chasing. Indianapolis still has time to make a push, but the margin for error is shrinking with every passing week.
Houston Texans: 2-5
Houston’s season took another frustrating turn Sunday, as the Texans fell 27-21 in overtime to the New York Giants. The loss was especially disappointing after Houston had earned consecutive victories over Tennessee and Jacksonville. Those wins offered hope that the Texans could recover from their 0-4 start and reenter the AFC South standings race.
Instead, Houston missed an opportunity to build momentum. The Texans struggled to close out the Giants despite mounting a late comeback, dropping to 2-5 and remaining tied with Indianapolis in the standings.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud has continued to show promise, but the Texans team needs more consistent production across the roster. Their inability to turn close games into victories has been a significant problem throughout the opening seven weeks.
Houston’s record does not eliminate its postseason hopes, but the team needs to start stringing together wins before the division’s leading Jaguars pull too far ahead. The Texans have a Week Eight bye to regroup before returning to action against the Los Angeles Chargers. That break could prove valuable for a team searching for answers after a disappointing start.
Tennessee Titans: 1-6
The Tennessee Titans came closer than any other AFC South team to winning Sunday, but the result was the same. Tennessee jumped out to a 14-0 lead against the Cleveland Browns and appeared poised to earn its second victory of the season. However, Cleveland rallied to win 27-24 on a game-winning field goal as time expired.
Running back Tony Pollard delivered a strong performance, recording 129 rushing yards and three touchdowns. His production gave Tennessee a legitimate chance to pull off the upset, but the Titans could not hold their advantage.
The defeat dropped Tennessee to 1-6, leaving it firmly at the bottom of the AFC South. The Titans have struggled to generate consistent offensive production throughout the season, and their inability to finish games continues to haunt them.
Quarterback Cam Ward also faces pressure to improve as Tennessee looks for signs of progress during a difficult campaign. There is still time for the Titans to develop their young players and establish a stronger foundation.
With the Jaguars already at 4-2, Tennessee’s chances of competing for the division title are becoming increasingly slim. The Titans will need to turn close losses into victories if they hope to make the remainder of their season meaningful.
End Of My AFC South Standings Rant
Week Seven provided a clear reminder of how quickly the AFC South standings race can shift. Jacksonville did not play, yet the Jaguars emerged from the weekend with a stronger position after every division rival lost.
The Colts and Texans remain three games below .500, while Tennessee faces a steep climb from the division’s basement. Jacksonville, meanwhile, has a chance to strengthen its advantage when the Colts visit in Week Eight.
That matchup could be particularly important for Indianapolis. A road victory would help the Colts regain momentum and narrow the gap between themselves and the division leaders. Another loss, however, would give Jacksonville even more control of the race.
With a 12-year gap since the last time the Colts won in Jacksonville, they stand in Indianapolis’ way. There is no doubt the Jacksonville Jaguars’ mouths are watering while scouting this beat-up Colts team. Houston will have to wait until after its bye to resume its pursuit, while Tennessee must find a way to build on its offensive flashes and produce a complete performance.
With several division games still ahead, the AFC South standings are far from decided. With that being said, after Week Seven, Jacksonville has established itself as the clear frontrunner, and its rivals are running out of opportunities to close the gap.
