NFL: Takeaways From Week Two In The AFC South

Each week of the 2025 NFL season, I’ll take a look at all of the AFC South teams. I’ll give you 3 takeaways from their latest games. Here’s what stood out from each franchise after Week 2

Indianapolis Colts (2-0) defeated the Denver Broncos (1-1) 29-28

Next up: at Tennessee Titans (0-2) (SUN Noon CST)

Daniel Jones

The Colts became the first team in the Super Bowl era to not punt in their first two games. The Jones-led attack wasn’t a conservative one, as seen in him leading the NFL in aggressiveness at 29.4%. Aggressiveness is measured by the percentage of passing attempts thrown into tight windows.

Jones wasn’t afraid to challenge the reigning DPOY, Patrick Surtain II, and even found success when targeting him. Despite Nik Bonitto registering six QB pressures, Jones was only sacked once and finished the week ranked #2 in completion percentage above expectation at +14.5. Jones is also tied for the NFL lead in rushing TDs (3) with Jalen Hurts, James Cook, and Javonte Williams.

Tyler Warren & Jonathan Taylor

The rookie tight end, Warren, has the 13th-most receiving yards in the NFL through two weeks and ranks 1st among all tight ends in that category. He’s proven as a go-to option for Jones.

Taylor currently leads the NFL in rushing yards (1 of 3 AFC South RBs in the top 6) after putting up 165 in Week 2 on 25 carries while also hauling in both of his targets for 50 yards and a touchdown. Indy has a complete offense with Jones and Warren joining Taylor and a talented receiving group. 

Cam Bynum

Bynum recorded an interception for the second straight week, making him one of only two NFL players with multiple interceptions (Jordan Battle) in the early going of the 2025 NFL season. 

He could have a big year if he can get more help from the front of the defense, as not only did they not record a sack against the Broncos, they didn’t even register a QB hit as a team. They did a total of five TFLs as a unit, though, and were without Laiatu Latu for this game. 

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) lose to the Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) 31-27

Next up: vs Houston Texans (0-2) (SUN Noon CST)

Trevor Lawrence

While Jones was stellar in completion percentage above average, Lawrence was on the other end of the spectrum with a -10.5, which ranked the third-lowest on the week. He has had no chemistry with Brian Thomas Jr., connecting on just four of 12 targets for 49 yards. Thomas Jr. didn’t help matters with a key drop and also finished the worst among receivers with 3+ catches in average YAC above expectation at -2.1.

Lawrence also hasn’t been able to hit anything big with rookie Travis Hunter, despite targeting him 14 times over two weeks for 9 completions and only 55 yards. Lawrence has also thrown an interception in both games when targeting Hunter. Thomas Jr. and Hunter, despite being the top two receivers on the team, are currently 4th and 5th in receiving yards for the Jaguars, behind Dyami Brown, Brenton Strange, and Parker Washington.

Travis Etienne Jr. & Bhayshul Tuten

Etienne Jr. trails only the Colts Taylor in rushing yards through two weeks and has broken off a 30+ yard rush in each game, including a massive 71-yard run in Week 1. Etienne has also chipped in five receptions for 31 yards this year while also recording a TD catch in Week 2.

After the departure of Tank Bigsby via trade, Tuten saw his role increase. He joined Etienne Jr. with a receiving TD in Week 2 while also rushing for 42 yards on eight carries. The Jaguars have a talented backfield, but need their passing game to become more efficient for this side of the ball to make a leap.

Defense

After winning defensive player of the week to start the season with 10 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble, Foyesade Oluokun continued to fill up the stat sheet with seven more tackles while recording his first two TFLs and a sack on the year. 

In the secondary, Jourdan Lewis and Tyson Campbell are tied with three other players in the NFL for the second-most PDs with four apiece. Campbell had a TFL in Week 1, while Lewis added two TFLs in Week 2, after he recorded an interception and a fumble recovery in the first game. The defensive backs were joined by rookie Hunter in the secondary for 39 snaps in this game, coming after Jarrian Jones left injured. 

Tennessee Titans (0-2) lose to the Los Angeles Rams (2-0) 33-19

Next up: vs Indianapolis Colts (2-0) (SUN Noon CST)

Cam Ward

He needs better weapons around him and better protection as well. He has been sacked 5+ times in both games this year. He has something in fellow rookie, wide receiver Elic Ayomanor. They’ll continue to develop and grow together with the Titans. Ayomanor made an insane catch in this game and also already knows how to play with Ward, keeping the play alive on the TD.

Tony Pollard

Pollard forced 14 missed tackles against the Rams. That’s a career-high for the veteran running back. He did so on 20 touches, making for a 70% forced missed tackle rate, which is the 3rd-highest by a player in a game with a minimum of 15 touches since 2020. 

Tennessee will eventually get Tyjae Sharpe and Kalel Mullings back. The growth of Ward, combined with Pollard playing at a high level and with depth returning in a few weeks to the backfield, gives the Titans the opportunity to develop into a good unit but they need to get both of their TEs more involved, along with improved play from the WR group as a whole.

Jeffery Simmons

Simmons continues to be a force on the defensive line with two more QB hits this week to go with the four from last week. His total through two games of six QB hits ties him for second in the NFL with two other players. Only Zach Allen (7) has more. The rest of the Titans defense combined only has five QB hits.

Simmons also has a sack and a TFL on the season. The rest of the team has totaled one sack and five TFLs. The other sack, as well as half of the TFLs, are from Tennessee’s defensive backs. Simmons needs more help around him. The Titans are missing Harold Landry, who played for the team from 2018-2024 and is currently tied with Simmons and Trey Hendrickson with 6 QB hits and tied for the league lead in sacks with 3.5 with Myles Garrett and Carl Granderson. Only Garrett has more TFLs (6) than Landry’s four. 

Houston Texans (0-2) lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) 20-19

Next up: at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) (SUN Noon CST)

C.J. Stroud & the Running Game

Much has been made about the Texans offensive line, but Stroud registered the 3rd-longest time to throw in Week 2 at 3.15. For the second straight week, Houston went 2 for 9 on third downs. For the season, they are 0-3 in the red zone and 0-1 in goal-to-go. 

Houston had no ground game to speak of as Stroud was the leading rusher with four carries for 27 yards until 2:16 was remaining in the fourth quarter, and Nick Chubb had a 25-yard TD run. Before that run, Chubb had 18 rushing yards on 11 carries. Rookie Woody Marks was more decisive this week and quicker to attack, but was only given three carries in which he took for 14 yards. He also caught his lone target for a 37-yard gain.

Will Anderson Jr. & Derek Stingley Jr.

Anderson Jr. registered 10 pressures in the game, which is the most for any player in a single game this season. Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter faced a Bucs offensive line who were without their starting left tackle, and their right tackle left early with an injury.

Stingley Jr. has proven to be one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. A week after locking down Davante Adams, he held Mike Evans to three receptions on nine targets for 36 yards on the 29 routes he was in coverage. The defense gave up TDs on the first two drives, but then shut the Bucs offense out for the next seven. A gassed unit gave up the winning score with six seconds remaining in the game. 

Special Teams

Frank Ross’ special teams unit kept the Texans alive late. His unit blocked a punt, setting up the offense in field goal range. The offense couldn’t move the ball and kicked a field goal to put the team back 1 point at 14-13.

Later, his rookie return man, Jaylin Noel, had a long punt return that set the offense up again, and this is when Chubb broke off his 25-yard TD run. Houston would fail on their two-point attempt, making the score 19-14. The special teams put Houston in position to pull out the wi,n but the offense didn’t do much to help its own cause.