🔗 Share this article

We’re past the first quarter of the professional football season, which suggests we have a good idea of the path of many franchises. So let’s highlight the teams whose optimistic outlook have vanished after Week 5. 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.

New York Jets: Winless at 0-5

The sole franchise without a victory in the league, the Jets fit every criteria for despair. There have been crushing setbacks, starting with Chris Boswell nailing a 60-yard winning field goal for the Steelers in the season opener. And there have been one-sided contests like Sunday’s 37-22 defeat to the Cowboys, which was far more lopsided than the numbers imply. The Jets’ supposed strength, their defense, became the first 0-5 team with zero takeaways in professional football annals. The Jets continue to hurt their own cause with flags, giveaways, poor offensive line play, failed fourth-down attempts and lackluster coaching. Amazingly the Jets are getting worse by the week. If that wasn’t enough this has been going on for years: their postseason absence of over a decade is the league's lengthiest. And with a poorly-regarded owner in the league, it could continue for years.

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

Baltimore Ravens (1-4)

Certainly, it’s simple to blame Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson’s absence. But a 44-10 scoreline – the biggest home loss in team history – is humiliating and even a talent like Jackson can't overcome everything if his D, which admittedly has been ravaged by injuries, is terrible. Making matters worse, the Ravens defense hardly put up a fight against the Texans. It was a big day for Houston's QB, Nick Chubb, and the rest.

Still, Jackson is expected back in the coming weeks, they play in a softer division and their remaining schedule is soft, so all hope is not lost. But based on how error-prone the Ravens have played with or without Jackson, the confidence level is nearly depleted.

Despair Index: 6/10 - The division is still within reach.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)

This situation stems from one incident: Joe Burrow's catastrophic injury in the early season. A trio of games without Burrow has resulted in multiple setbacks. It’s difficult to watch two top pass-catchers, the star receiver and the talented wideout, making plays with nothing to show for it. Chase hauled in two huge touchdowns and significant yardage on Sunday in a 37-24 defeat to an elite squad, the Lions. But Cincinnati’s O did most of the damage once the game was out of reach. At the same time, Burrow’s replacement, the backup passer, while promising in the fourth quarter against the Lions, has mostly been a disaster. His three turnovers on Sunday sank the Bengals.

No franchise in football depends so much on the fitness of a single athlete like the Bengals do with Burrow. Hopeful supporters will point to the fact that they will be a playoff contender when Burrow returns next season, if he can remain healthy. But merely a month into the current campaign, the campaign looks all but over for Cincinnati.

Despair Index: 6/10 – Cincinnati fans are left imagining alternate realities.

Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)

Let Maxx Crosby go, who remains one of the few good things in a weird new era of Las Vegas struggles. Sunday’s 40-6 rout to the Indianapolis was another demonstration of the ill-fated union of the signal-caller and the sideline leader in the Las Vegas. Smith has been a mistake-prone player, ranking first this season with nine picks. His two interceptions in the fifth game resulted in Indianapolis touchdowns. We’re not sure what Plan B is, but the primary strategy – being all in on Smith – is a very painful watch.

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

Surprise Entry! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)

Yes, they’re the defending champions. And admittedly, they have only been defeated twice in 22 games. But among AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith expressing dissatisfaction with their roles, followers' criticism about their slow-moving attack and the Philadelphia's uncertainty about coach Sirianni, you’d think the Eagles were 0-5. Indeed, Sunday’s breakdown was alarming: the Eagles squandered a 14-point lead to Denver in the fourth quarter thanks to five penalties, an attack that vanished, and a Vic Fangio defense that was beaten and outthought by the Broncos' coach. Stranger events have occurred. Still, they were on the subject to debated officiating and are equal with the top mark 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.

Also Noteworthy: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

The Cardinals are middle-of-the-road rather than terrible, but their humiliating 22-21 defeat to the previously winless Titans was badly executed. A goalline fumble from Emari Demercado, who assumed he had scored too soon, followed by a fumbled Cardinals interception that led to a Tennessee score cost Arizona the game. You couldn't invent this loss if you wanted to. Given that this, and their previous two losses, were on last-second kicks, there can’t be much joy in Arizona these days. “I'm not sure how to process that,” the signal-caller said after the game. “I don’t even know. 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

Carolina's Rico Dowdle, RB. The ball carrier, substituting for the absent Hubbard, {could do with a little more confidence|