You’re getting Five Nights of KMARK this week. Primetime edition. I’m the Late Show now.

Baseball. It’s actually the important part of the season. Sorry football. If you were eyes were glued to the NFL, don’t worry. There’s two things you need to know this week.

1. The Mariners are a train. They’ve won 9 straight to surge into first place in the AL West. We can all get behind a new leader (not the TrAshtros) out west. Can the M’s hold on? They get the Royals to start the week and then a massive series in Houston to close it. Keep your eyes here. Cal Raleigh can win the MVP with a massive week.

2. The Mets have been run over by a train. They’re 2-8 over their last ten. Will this be another in a long, long history of epic September collapses? Could be. They cling to the NL’s last wild card spot by a game and a half. Lose that spot, with a team this expensive, and expect to see some heads roll.

Of course the MLB has more stories than these two, but narrow your focus. You’re sitting 3-1 looking for something on the inner half. Anything changes and I’ll help you widen the zone.

I have a friend who is a lifelong Washington Huskies fan. It’s multi-generational. His allegiance extends to the Seahawks, but with Atlanta picking Michael Penix, he’s become a Falcons fan. Don’t do this. Michael didn’t ask for that. For now, you and my buddy can enjoy this Week 2 breakdown of the NFC South. You’re welcome JB. We’ll tackle a division or two each night. Let’s start with the Bucs, Falcons, Panthers, and Saints.

Bucs, 2-0

Baker Mayfield should win this division. After leading the league in touchdowns (41), Baker returns all his offensive weapons. Mike Evans, Bucky Irving, Emeka Egbuka. Egbuka has the inside track for Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Bucs survived weeks 1 and 2 without starting left tackle Tristan Wurfs. They lost their starting right tackle tonight against the Texans. If the front can hold up, they’ll light up the scoreboard.

Panthers, 0-2

Bryce Young is such a small, small boy. We have to protect Bryce! Through two weeks, the line is holding up, but the results haven’t changed. Carolina is 0-2, they’ve just lost starting right guard Rob Hunt, starting center Austin Corbett, and will have stand up to division rivals Atlanta next week. Panthers owner David Tepper is a known Hot Head. He’s learning that being a billionaire doesn’t guarantee wins the NFL. Why would it? Let’s all hope to see this Prickwad blow a fuse when Carolina is 0-8.

Saints, 0-2

Do you ever wonder how the Eagles pay for all their great players? Void years. We don’t have the space today to get into the cap mechanics of void years, but they’re just another tool teams use to mortgage the future to chase wins today. The original inventors of the void year strategy? The Saints! The years and years of chasing titles with Drew Brees are the reason the Saints are back to their garbage ways since his retirement. The check came due. The Saints will be awful this year. If you need to know anything, they employ Doug Nussmeier as their offensive coordinator. Nussmeier was a journeyman QB who spent a few years in New Orleans. Long enough to raise his son, and future first round pick, Garrett Nussmeier. Young Nuss is now the QB at LSU. Will he keep it Bayou and become the future of the Saints next season?

Falcons, 1-1

The one, true challenge for the Bucs. Can Michael Penix, Jr, in his first full season, take this Falcons offense to a division title? The weapons are there and Jake Matthews is still at left tackle. Defensively, former Super Bowl winning Rams DC Raheem Morris is looking for any sort of pass rush. The Falcons traded their first round pick next year to the Rams to move up and pick James Pierce, Jr. Horrible concept, but at least he has half a sack to start the season. After the Panthers, Penix will get tested with the Commanders, Bills, and Niners. They’re staring at 2-4 before things get easier.

Is a Super Bowl winner coming from the SEC of the NFL? No. Should you watch the Bucs and Falcons. Yes. Even if you’re not JB.