Will the South rise again? It seems there is no direction to go but up for seven of the eight teams in the AFC and NFC South. (Jaguars fans give thanks for the Browns.)

Titans fans should be most concerned. In QB Cam Ward’s rookie season, Tennessee generated just 2.12 points of player productivity. That is barely above the “JaMarcus Cable,” my minimum level of performance below which the QB must be replaced. (It is the equivalent of the “Mendoza Line” in baseball and named after former Raiders’ QB JaMarcus Russell and HC Tom Cable who’s combined ineptness the moniker dishonors.) On Sunday, in a 23-10 loss to the Jets coached by Aaron Glenn who I do not hold in high esteem as a defensive genius, Ward generated only 1.72 player productivity and most of that was in garbage time. Oy vey. The Titans brought in Brian Dabbold as OC to “fix” Ward. It is just one game. Drawing a conclusion after one game obviously would be premature. But it is not premature to say that if Ward’s career in Tennessee is not yet at the crossroads he can see them from here.

Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht is also on the hot seat after QB Baker Mayfield committed 3 TO in the Buccaneers’ 33-27 loss at Cincinnati. In the pre-season, Baker called Licht’s offer to extend his contract “disrespectful.” Then, on September 6, Baker changed his mind and agreed to a two-year extension at $55 million per year. The contract makes him the third highest paid QB in the NFL behind Joe Burrow and Josh Allen and will be on Tampa Bay’s books through 2029. Give me a limit bet that Baker is not the Bucs’ starting QB for half that time.

Colts social media accounts and blogs were not pleased with HC Shane Steichen after a 41-23 loss to the Ravens in which QB Lamar Jackson and RB Darrick Henry took anything they wanted from the Indianapolis defense. I was not pleased either. The Colts no-show ruined my otherwise perfect 4-team +808 parlay (Colts, Jaguars, Raiders, Cardinals +9.5). Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon probably was not pleased either, but not as displeased as a person who saw a +808 parlay go down the drain.

The Falcons +6.5 was the right side against the Steelers no matter what the scoreboard said (Pittsburgh 20 Atlanta 13). The Falcons can cover and when a team can cover it can cover. I was very confident Steelers QB Aaron Roger would not be able to generate consistent offense. Check. I also knew that Atlanta third-string QB Cooper Rush could match Rogers and that the inflated point subsidy would be enough provided Rush did not make a big mistake. Then Steelers DE T.J. Watt grabbed a Rush pass and the line of scrimmage. He fell to the ground. Somehow the three Atlanta players around him managed to not touch him down. He rose and plodded into the end zone. It’s called gambling for a reason.

The Panthers (37), Texans (31), and Saints (30) combined to score 98 points. But the Bears (59), Bills (36), and Lions (31) combined to score 126 points. Carolina, Houston, and New Orleans each was -2 TO and the Saints missed a game winning 2-point PAT in OT. That’ll get you beat.