🔗 Share this article

We are beyond the quarter mark of the NFL season, which means we have a solid understanding of the path of most teams. So let’s examine the teams whose positive energy have disappeared after Week 5. Remember these aren’t necessarily the lowest-ranked franchises in the league (the Titans and Browns, for example, are awful but are mostly playing as projected) as much as the ones who have been greatest underachievers.

Jets Remain at 0-5

The sole franchise without a victory in the league, the Jets fit every criteria for despair. There have been heartbreaking defeats, starting with Chris Boswell hitting a 60-yard winning field goal for the Steelers in the season opener. And there have been routs like Sunday’s 37-22 loss to the Cowboys, which was much less competitive than the score suggests. The Jets’ alleged strong point, their defense, became the first 0-5 unit with no forced turnovers in professional football annals. The Jets continue to hurt their own cause with flags, turnovers, subpar blocking, ineffective short-yardage play and lackluster coaching. Amazingly the Jets are deteriorating weekly. If that weren't sufficient this has been going on for years: their postseason absence of 14 years is the longest in the NFL. And with a poorly-regarded owner in the league, it could persist indefinitely.

Misery rating: 9/10 – How long is Aaron Glenn’s leash?

Baltimore Ravens: Struggling at 1-4

Certainly, it’s simple to blame Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson being out. But a 44-10 scoreline – the worst home loss in Ravens history – is humiliating and even a talent like Jackson won't single-handedly change things if his D, which in fairness has been ravaged by injuries, is awful. Even worse, the Ravens defense hardly put up a fight against the Texans. It was a productive outing for CJ Stroud, the running back, and the rest.

Still, Jackson should be back in the near future, they play in a relatively weak division and their future games is soft, so there's still a chance. But based on how error-prone the Ravens have performed regardless of Jackson, the optimism gauge is running on fumes.

Misery rating: 6/10 - The Steelers probably won’t run away with the division.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)

The issue here is a single play: Joe Burrow's catastrophic injury in Week 2. A trio of games without Burrow has resulted in a trio of defeats. It’s almost painful to watch two of the league’s best receivers, the star receiver and the talented wideout, performing well with little to celebrate. Chase grabbed a pair of big scores and 110 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 defeat to a top franchise, the Detroit. But Cincinnati’s offense did the majority of their work once the result was beyond doubt. Simultaneously, Burrow’s replacement, the substitute QB, while promising in the final period against the Lions, has mostly been a disaster. His three turnovers on Sunday doomed the Bengals.

No organization in football relies so heavily on the health of a single athlete like the Bengals do with Burrow. Positive followers will note the fact that they will be a playoff contender when Burrow is back next season, if he can remain healthy. But merely a month into this season, the season looks all but over for Cincinnati.

Suffering Score: 6/10 – Bengals supporters are again pondering what might have been.

Raiders Drop to 1-4

Let Maxx Crosby go, who is still one of the few good things in a unusual time of Silver and Black suffering. Sunday’s 40-6 blowout loss to the Colts was another demonstration of the disastrous pairing of Geno Smith and the head coach in the Nevada. Smith has been a mistake-prone player, topping the NFL this season with nine interceptions. His two turnovers in the latest contest resulted in Indianapolis touchdowns. It's unclear what the alternative is, but the current approach – being fully committed to Smith – is a very painful watch.

Despair Index: 7/10 – Chip Kelly's offense requires immediate changes.

Unexpected Mention: Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)

Yes, they’re the defending champions. And of course, they have only been defeated twice in 22 contests. But between AJ Brown and the pass-catcher being disgruntled with their situations, followers' criticism about their slow-moving attack and the Philadelphia's uncertainty about head coach Nick Sirianni, you’d think the Eagles were 0-5. Indeed, Sunday’s breakdown was alarming: the Eagles lost a two-score advantage to Denver in the final period thanks to five penalties, an attack that vanished, and a Vic Fangio defense that was dominated and outcoached by the Broncos' coach. Stranger events have occurred. Nevertheless, they were on the receiving side of questionable rulings and are tied for the best record in their league. What happened to the joy?

Misery rating: 3/10 - The vibes may be off but the Eagles will reach the postseason again.

Mention-Worthy: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

The Cardinals are mediocre rather than awful, but their humiliating 22-21 loss to the formerly victory-less Titans was badly executed. A fumble at the goal line from the ball carrier, who assumed he had scored early, followed by a fumbled Cardinals interception that ended in a Tennessee score did Arizona in. You couldn't imagine this setback if you attempted. Considering this, and their previous two losses, were on game-winning field goals, there can’t be much joy in Cardinals territory these days. “I'm at a loss for words,” Kyler Murray said after the game. “I'm uncertain. I'm completely baffled. That's a textbook example of losing. I can't explain. It was insane.”

Suffering Score: 3/10 – Does Kyler Murray remain the franchise QB?

Top Performer

Rico Dowdle, running back, Carolina Panthers. The ball carrier, substituting for the absent Hubbard, {could do with a little more confidence|