🔗 Share this article

We have passed the first quarter of the National Football League campaign, which indicates we have a solid understanding of the trajectory of the majority of squads. So let’s celebrate the teams whose good vibes have disappeared after Week 5. Remember these aren’t necessarily the most terrible squads in the league (the Titans and Browns, for example, are awful but are largely playing as projected) as much as the ones who have been most disappointing.

Jets Remain at 0-5

The sole franchise without a victory in the league, the Jets epitomize football suffering. There have been devastating losses, starting with Chris Boswell drilling a clutch 60-yard kick for the Steelers in the season opener. And there have been one-sided contests like Sunday’s 37-22 loss to the Cowboys, which was much less competitive than the score suggests. The Jets’ presumed asset, their defense, became the initial winless squad with zero takeaways in professional football annals. The Jets continue to make costly mistakes with infractions, turnovers, subpar blocking, ineffective short-yardage play and poor sideline leadership. Amazingly the Jets are deteriorating weekly. If that wasn’t enough this has been happening for a long time: their postseason absence of 14 years is the most extended in football. And with a controversial franchise head in the league, it could persist indefinitely.

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

Baltimore Ravens: Struggling at 1-4

Sure, it’s tempting to attribute Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson being out. But a 44-10 scoreline – the most lopsided home defeat in team history – is embarrassing and even a talent like Jackson isn’t going to tip the scales if his defensive unit, which admittedly 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 their teammates.

Still, Jackson is expected back in the coming weeks, they play in a less competitive division and their remaining schedule is favorable, so optimism remains. But considering how messy the Ravens have executed with or sans Jackson, the hope-o-meter is running on fumes.

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

Cincinnati Bengals: Slipping to 2-3

This situation stems from a single play: Joe Burrow's catastrophic injury in the early season. Several weeks without Burrow has caused multiple setbacks. It’s hard to watch two top pass-catchers, Ja’Marr Chase and the other starting receiver, doing their thing with nothing to show for it. Chase hauled in a pair of big scores and over 100 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 loss to one of the league’s best teams, the Detroit. But Cincinnati’s O did the majority of their work once the result was beyond doubt. At the same time, Burrow’s stand-in, the backup passer, while impressive in the final period against the Lions, has mostly been a disaster. His three interceptions on Sunday cost the Bengals.

No organization in football relies so heavily on the fitness of a single athlete like the Bengals do with Burrow. Positive followers will highlight the fact that they will be a playoff team when Burrow comes back next year, if he can stay fit. But merely a month 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

Free Maxx Crosby, who remains one of the only bright spots in a weird new era of Silver and Black suffering. Sunday’s 40-6 demolition to the Colts was another demonstration of the disastrous pairing of the quarterback and Pete Carroll in the desert. Smith has been a turnover machine, leading the league this season with nine turnovers. His two turnovers in Week 5 led to Indianapolis scores. Nobody knows what the backup plan is, but the current approach – being fully committed to Smith – is a hard-to-watch situation.

Suffering Score: 7/10 – Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly must adjust quickly.

Surprise Entry! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)

Yes, they’re the defending champions. And yes, they have suffered merely two losses in 22 outings. But among the wideout and DeVonta Smith being disgruntled with their roles, supporter grievances about their slow-moving attack and the local doubt about coach Sirianni, you’d think the Eagles were 0-5. Yes, Sunday’s collapse was worrisome: the Eagles squandered a 14-point lead to Denver in the fourth quarter thanks to multiple flags, an attack that vanished, and a defensive scheme that was dominated and outcoached by the Broncos' coach. Stranger events have occurred. Nevertheless, they were on the end of some controversial calls and are tied for the leading standing in their league. Where are the smiles?

Suffering Score: 3/10 - The atmosphere might be negative but Philadelphia will make the playoffs.

Also Noteworthy: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

The Cardinals are middle-of-the-road rather than awful, but their embarrassing 22-21 defeat to the previously winless Titans was poorly played. A fumble at the goal line from the running back, who celebrated a 72-yard would be touchdown too soon, followed by a fumbled Cardinals interception that led to a Tennessee score cost Arizona the game. You couldn’t concoct this loss if you tried. Since this, and their previous two losses, were on last-second kicks, there is little celebration in Cardinals territory these days. “I'm at a loss for words,” the quarterback said after the game. “I'm uncertain. I truly don't understand. That's a textbook example of losing. I can't explain. It was crazy.”

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

MVP of the week

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