FALLING

1. Jack Del Rio, Jaguars coach: His team fell flat on its face on national television, appearing to lack playmakers, creativity and fire. And his timeouts at the end to extend the misery and create a situation where the Titans could add a touchdown didn’t make a lot of sense.

2. Pat McAfee, Colts punter: A public intoxication charge from early Tuesday morning is a blow for a guy who’s been an effective punter and kickoff specialist for the Colts since he was drafted in the seventh round in 2008. It’s not a large-scale crime, but it draws the wrong kind of attention to a team that prides itself on being squeaky clean. He’s a free-spirited, fun guy. I suspect he’ll be less so with the public and the press going forward.

3. Veteran Jaguars safeties: Anthony Smith and Gerald Alexander had five starts between them this season. Now they are both gone. Smith was traded to Green Bay Saturday for a conditional seventh-rounder and Alexander was cut for a second time after the Titans game. Sean Considine must be healthy, and we’ll see if Don Carey and/or Courtney Greene prove an upgrade.

RISING

1. Owen Daniels, Texans tight end: Six games into his return from his third ACL operation, he looks to be running better. He’s clearly hungry to prove he’s all the way back and worthy of a new contract. He had five catches for 79 yards in the win over the Chiefs, including key 24- and 27-yard catch-and-runs that helped set up one of the fourth-quarter touchdowns.

2. Alterraun Verner, Titans cornerback: The rookie is playing very solidly as the Titans' second starter. In fact, he’s outplaying the team’s No. 1 cornerback, Cortland Finnegan. Jason McCourty edged Verner out for the starting job in the preseason, but once McCourty recovers from a fractured forearm, Jeff Fisher’s going to have to find a way to keep Verner in the lineup.

3. Pierre Garcon, Colts receiver: Drops and some route problems or miscommunications caused some early concerns, as did a hamstring injury that cost him some games. But he was an X factor in Indianapolis’ win at Washington, with the 57-yard touchdown early and the one-handed, leaping grab -- a catch-of-the-year candidate for sure. The potential for those sort of big plays is why they like him.