We have passed the quarter mark of the professional football season, which suggests we have a good idea of the path of most teams. So let’s celebrate the teams whose optimistic outlook have evaporated after the fifth week. Note that these might not be the most terrible squads in the league (the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, for example, are awful but are mostly playing as anticipated) as much as the ones who have been biggest letdowns.
The sole franchise without a victory in the league, the Jets check all the misery boxes. There have been devastating losses, starting with Chris Boswell drilling a 60-yard game-winner for the Steelers in Week 1. And there have been routs like Sunday’s 37-22 defeat to the Cowboys, which was not nearly as close than the score suggests. The Jets’ presumed asset, their defensive unit, became the first 0-5 unit with zero takeaways in NFL history. The Jets continue to make costly mistakes with flags, giveaways, subpar blocking, failed fourth-down attempts and poor sideline leadership. Incredibly the Jets are getting worse by the week. If that didn't suffice this has been a recurring issue: their playoff-less streak of over a decade is the longest in the NFL. And with one of the worst owners in the league, it could persist indefinitely.
Suffering Score: 9/10 – Is Aaron Glenn's job safe?
Sure, it’s tempting to attribute Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson being out. But 44-10 – the biggest home loss in franchise history – is embarrassing and even a talent like Jackson can't overcome everything if his defensive unit, which to be fair has been plagued by health issues, is awful. Making matters worse, the Ravens defense offered little resistance against the Texans. It was a productive outing for Houston's QB, the Browns' star, and their teammates.
However, Jackson should be back in the near future, they play in a less competitive division and their upcoming slate is favorable, so all hope is not lost. But considering how messy the Ravens have performed regardless of Jackson, the confidence level is running on fumes.
Suffering Score: 6/10 - The AFC North remains up for grabs.
The issue here is a single play: Joe Burrow's catastrophic injury in Week 2. Several weeks without Burrow has caused multiple setbacks. It’s almost painful to watch a pair of elite wideouts, the star receiver and the talented wideout, performing well with little to celebrate. Chase hauled in a pair of big scores and 110 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 defeat to an elite squad, the Detroit. But Cincinnati’s offense did the majority of their work once the outcome was decided. Simultaneously, Burrow’s backup, the backup passer, while promising in the fourth quarter against the Lions, has often been ineffective. His three interceptions on Sunday sank the Bengals.
No organization in football hinges on the well-being of one player like the Bengals do with Burrow. Hopeful supporters will point to the fact that they will be a playoff team when Burrow returns the following campaign, if he can avoid injury. But just five games into the present year, the season looks essentially finished for Cincinnati.
Despair Index: 6/10 – Cincinnati fans are left imagining alternate realities.
Let Maxx Crosby go, who is still one of the only bright spots in a unusual time of Raiders misery. Sunday’s 40-6 rout to the Indianapolis was more proof of the ill-fated union of Geno Smith and the head coach in the Las Vegas. Smith has been a mistake-prone player, topping the NFL this season with nine turnovers. His two turnovers in the latest contest produced Indianapolis touchdowns. Nobody knows what Plan B is, but Plan A – being all in on Smith – is a very painful watch.
Suffering Score: 7/10 – Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly must adjust quickly.
Yes, they’re the defending champions. And of course, they have suffered merely two losses in 22 outings. But among the star receiver and DeVonta Smith being disgruntled with their situations, supporter grievances about their slow-moving attack and the city’s continued skepticism about head coach Nick Sirianni, you’d think the Eagles were 0-5. True, Sunday’s collapse was worrisome: the Eagles blew a significant margin to Denver in the last quarter thanks to multiple flags, an O that disappeared, and a D that was beaten and outthought by the opposing strategist. More surprising outcomes exist. Nevertheless, they were on the receiving side of questionable rulings and are sharing the best record in their conference. Why the long faces?
Suffering Score: 3/10 - The atmosphere might be negative but Philadelphia will make the playoffs.
The Cardinals are mediocre rather than awful, but their shameful 22-21 loss to the formerly victory-less Titans was poorly played. A goalline fumble from the running back, who assumed he had scored too soon, followed by a muffed pick that resulted in a Tennessee score sank the Cardinals. You couldn’t concoct this defeat if you tried. Given that this, and their earlier setbacks, were on last-second kicks, there can’t be much joy in Arizona these days. “I'm not sure how to process that,” Kyler Murray said after the game. “I'm confused. I'm completely baffled. That's a textbook example of losing. I can't explain. It was crazy.”
Despair Index: 3/10 – Is Murray the long-term answer?
Carolina's Rico Dowdle, RB. The ball carrier, substituting for the injured Chuba Hubbard, {could do with a little more confidence|
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