<
        >

          NFL Nation

          AFC South Q&A: Who is on the hottest seat in the division?

          play
          Colts have tall order to make playoffs (0:53)

          Bill Polian explains why it will be difficult for the Colts to reach the playoffs with only six defensive players returning from last year's roster. (0:53)

          • ESPN.com
          Jul 12, 2017, 07:00 AM ET

          Which player, coach or front-office executive in the AFC South is on the hottest seat this season? Our roundtable reporters give their picks.

          Sarah Barshop, Houston Texans reporter: Colts coach Chuck Pagano. The future of Pagano, who signed a four-year contract extension after the 2015 season, has been in doubt the past two offseasons. The Colts fired general manager Ryan Grigson after last season and hired Chris Ballard. Pagano has a 49-31 regular-season record in five seasons with Indianapolis, but the Colts failed to make the playoffs the past two years. If the Colts fail to play past Week 17 again -- or perhaps even get off to a slow start -- Pagano could see his Indy tenure end this season.

          Michael DiRocco, Jacksonville Jaguars reporter: It's easily Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, who enters a make-or-break season. He had what appeared to be a breakout campaign in 2015 by setting single-season franchise records for passing yards (4,428) and passing TDs (35), but he followed that with a disappointing 2016. Bortles threw 23 TD passes last season but was intercepted 16 times, regressed mechanically with his footwork and delivery, and admitted he was a mess mentally at the end of the season. The Jaguars picked up his fifth-year option, but that's guaranteed for injury only so he has to prove this season that he can be the long-term starter. Bortles' biggest issues are decision-making, accuracy and turnovers. Over the past three seasons, he has committed the most turnovers (63) and thrown the second-most interceptions (51) of any player in the NFL. If his decision-making and accuracy (mechanics) improve, he should be able to cut down on turnovers significantly. If not, he'll likely be looking for a new home in 2018.

          Mike Wells, Indianapolis Colts reporter: Take out a coin and toss it in the air. Heads, it's Pagano. Tails, it's Bortles. It landed on heads. The Colts head coach has managed to survive back-to-back 8-8 seasons and the firing of Grigson, but Pagano's chances of keeping his job could be running out. After Colts owner Jim Irsay hired Ballard as the new general manager, Pagano can't afford to miss the playoffs for the third straight season in what has been one of the weaker divisions in the NFL. Pagano wasn't Ballard’s handpicked choice, so all eyes will be on the coach throughout the season.