Jets, Ravens … Eagles? Which team is most miserable after Week 5 of the NFL season?
We have passed the 25% point of the National Football League campaign, which suggests we have a solid understanding of the trajectory of the majority of squads. So let’s celebrate the teams whose good vibes have vanished after Week 5. Remember these are not exactly the lowest-ranked franchises in the league (the Titans and Browns, for example, are awful but are generally playing as expected) as much as the ones who have been biggest letdowns.
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 drilling a clutch 60-yard kick for the Steelers in the first game. And there have been routs like Sunday’s 37-22 defeat to the Cowboys, which was not nearly as close than the final score indicates. The Jets’ supposed strength, their defense, became the first 0-5 unit with no forced turnovers in professional football annals. The Jets continue to make costly mistakes with penalties, mistakes, poor offensive line play, failed fourth-down attempts and lackluster coaching. Somehow the Jets are deteriorating weekly. If that weren't sufficient this has been a recurring issue: their playoff drought of 14 seasons is the longest in the NFL. 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
Certainly, it’s tempting to attribute Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson’s absence. But 44-10 – the worst home loss in team history – is embarrassing and even a player of Jackson's caliber won't single-handedly change things if his defensive unit, which in fairness has been blighted by injury, is terrible. Making matters worse, the Ravens defense offered little resistance against the Texans. It was a productive outing for Houston's QB, the running back, and their teammates.
However, Jackson is expected back in the coming weeks, they play in a less competitive division and their remaining schedule is favorable, so all hope is not lost. But based on how error-prone the Ravens have executed with or sans Jackson, the optimism gauge is nearly depleted.
Suffering Score: 6/10 - The AFC North remains up for grabs.
Bengals Fall to 2-3
The issue here is one incident: Joe Burrow's catastrophic injury in the early season. A trio of games without Burrow has led to a trio of defeats. It’s almost painful to watch two top pass-catchers, Ja’Marr Chase and the other starting receiver, performing well with little to celebrate. Chase caught two huge touchdowns and significant yardage on Sunday in a 37-24 beating to a top franchise, the Detroit. But Cincinnati’s O did most of the damage once the game was out of reach. Simultaneously, Burrow’s backup, Jake Browning, while promising in the fourth quarter against the Lions, has generally struggled. His three picks on Sunday cost the Bengals.
No team in football relies so heavily on the well-being of a single athlete like the Bengals do with Burrow. Optimistic fans will highlight the fact that they will be a postseason threat when Burrow returns next year, if he can remain healthy. But just five games into the current campaign, the season looks practically done for Cincinnati.
Misery rating: 6/10 – Once again, Bengals fans are left to wonder at what could have been.
Raiders Drop to 1-4
Let Maxx Crosby go, who continues to be a rare positive in a weird new era of Silver and Black suffering. Sunday’s 40-6 blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts was another demonstration of the poor combination of the quarterback and Pete Carroll in the Las Vegas. Smith has been a turnover machine, ranking first this season with nine picks. His two picks in the fifth game produced Indianapolis TDs. It's unclear 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.
Wildcard alert! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)
Certainly, they’re the defending champions. And admittedly, they have suffered merely two losses in 22 games. But amid the star receiver and DeVonta Smith expressing dissatisfaction with their situations, supporter grievances about their underperforming O and the Philadelphia's uncertainty about the head man, you’d think the Eagles were 0-5. Indeed, Sunday’s collapse was worrisome: the Eagles blew a significant margin to Denver in the fourth quarter thanks to several infractions, an attack that vanished, and a Vic Fangio defense that was pummeled and outsmarted by Sean Payton. More surprising outcomes exist. However, they were on the end of some controversial calls and are tied for the best record in their league. Why the long faces?
Suffering Score: 3/10 - The atmosphere might be negative but Philadelphia will make the playoffs.
Honorable mention: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)
The Cardinals are middle-of-the-road rather than terrible, but their shameful 22-21 loss to the formerly victory-less Titans was poorly played. A turnover near the end zone from Emari Demercado, who prematurely celebrated a long run early, followed by a fumbled Cardinals interception that ended in a Titans touchdown cost Arizona the game. You couldn't invent this defeat if you attempted. Given that this, and their prior defeats, were on clutch field goals, there can’t be much joy in Glendale these days. “I'm at a loss for words,” the signal-caller said after the game. “I'm confused. 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?
Top Performer
Rico Dowdle, running back, Carolina Panthers. The running back, replacing the hurt starter, {could do with a little more confidence|