🔗 Share this article

We have passed the 25% point of the professional football season, which means we have a solid understanding of the trajectory of most teams. So let’s highlight the teams whose positive energy have vanished after Week 5. Keep in mind these aren’t necessarily the worst teams in the league (the Tennessee Titans and Browns, for example, are terrible but are mostly playing as projected) as much as the ones who have been greatest underachievers.

New York Jets: Winless at 0-5

The sole franchise without a victory in the league, the Jets check all the misery boxes. There have been heartbreaking defeats, starting with Chris Boswell nailing a 60-yard winning field goal for the Steelers in the first game. And there have been routs like Sunday’s 37-22 beating to the Cowboys, which was far more lopsided than the final score indicates. The Jets’ presumed asset, their defense, became the initial winless squad with no takeaways in NFL history. The Jets continue to shoot themselves in the foot with penalties, mistakes, poor offensive line play, ineffective short-yardage play and poor sideline leadership. 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 controversial franchise head in the league, it could continue for years.

Suffering Score: 9/10 – Is Aaron Glenn's job safe?

Ravens Sink to 1-4

Certainly, it’s tempting to attribute Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Jackson not playing. But a 44-10 scoreline – the most lopsided home defeat in Ravens history – is embarrassing and even a star like Jackson won't single-handedly change things if his defense, which to be fair has been blighted by injury, is terrible. Compounding the issue, the Ravens defense hardly put up a fight against the Texans. It was a productive outing for CJ Stroud, Nick Chubb, and the rest.

Nevertheless, Jackson is expected back in the near future, they play in a relatively weak division and their remaining schedule is soft, so there's still a chance. But based on how error-prone the Ravens have executed with or sans Jackson, the hope-o-meter is running on fumes.

Suffering Score: 6/10 - The AFC North remains up for grabs.

Cincinnati Bengals: Slipping to 2-3

This one boils down to a single play: Joe Burrow’s season-ending injury in the early season. A trio of games without Burrow has caused a trio of defeats. It’s difficult to watch two top pass-catchers, Cincinnati's WR1 and Tee Higgins, making plays with nothing to show for it. Chase grabbed two major TDs and 110 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 beating to an elite squad, the Lions. But Cincinnati’s O did the majority of their work once the game was out of reach. Simultaneously, Burrow’s replacement, Jake Browning, while impressive in the final period against the Lions, has generally struggled. His three turnovers on Sunday sank the Bengals.

No organization in football hinges on the health of an individual like the Bengals do with Burrow. Hopeful supporters will note the fact that they will be a playoff contender when Burrow is back next season, if he can avoid injury. But just five games into this season, the campaign looks all but over for Cincinnati.

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

Las Vegas Raiders: Stumbling at 1-4

Release Maxx Crosby, who continues to be a rare positive in a weird new era of Raiders misery. Sunday’s 40-6 blowout loss to the Indianapolis was more proof of the disastrous pairing of Geno Smith and Pete Carroll in the desert. Smith has been a mistake-prone player, leading the league this season with nine picks. His two picks in the latest contest led to Indianapolis touchdowns. We’re not sure what the backup plan is, but the current approach – being fully committed to Smith – is a hard-to-watch situation.

Misery rating: 7/10 – OC Chip Kelly needs to change course ASAP.

Surprise Entry! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)

Indeed, they’re the current title holders. And admittedly, they have lost just twice in 22 contests. But among AJ Brown and the pass-catcher being disgruntled with their positions, fan complaints about their slow-moving attack and the Philadelphia's uncertainty about the head man, you’d think the Eagles were 0-5. Indeed, Sunday’s meltdown was alarming: the Eagles blew a 14-point lead to Denver in the final period thanks to multiple flags, an O that disappeared, and a defensive scheme that was dominated and outcoached by the opposing strategist. More surprising outcomes exist. Nevertheless, they were on the receiving side of some controversial calls and are equal with the leading standing in their conference. What happened to the joy?

Despair Index: 3/10 - Despite the mood, the Eagles are playoff-bound.

Honorable mention: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

The Cardinals are middle-of-the-road rather than miserable, but their humiliating 22-21 loss to the previously winless Titans was badly executed. A fumble at the goal line from Emari Demercado, who assumed he had scored too soon, followed by a fumbled Cardinals interception that led to a opposing TD cost Arizona the game. You couldn’t concoct this setback if you wanted to. Considering this, and their earlier setbacks, were on last-second kicks, there isn't much happiness in Glendale these days. “I'm not sure how to process that,” Kyler Murray said after the game. “I don’t even know. I really don’t even know. That's a textbook example of losing. I don’t know. It was crazy.”

Despair Index: 3/10 – Is Murray the long-term answer?

MVP of the week

Panthers RB Rico Dowdle. The running back, filling in for the absent Hubbard, {could do with a little more confidence|