🔗 Share this article

We’re past the quarter mark of the National Football League campaign, which indicates we have a solid understanding of the trajectory of the majority of squads. So let’s examine the teams whose optimistic outlook have disappeared after Week 5. Remember these are not exactly the lowest-ranked franchises in the league (the Titans and Browns, for example, are poor but are mostly playing as anticipated) as much as the ones who have been biggest letdowns.

New York Jets (0-5)

The lone squad yet to win in the league, the Jets epitomize football suffering. There have been crushing setbacks, starting with Chris Boswell hitting a 60-yard winning field goal for the Steelers in the first game. And there have been blowouts like Sunday’s 37-22 beating to the Cowboys, which was much less competitive than the numbers imply. The Jets’ supposed strength, their D, became the first 0-5 team with no takeaways in NFL history. The Jets continue to make costly mistakes with penalties, mistakes, subpar blocking, failed fourth-down attempts and uninspired coaching. Amazingly the Jets are getting worse by the week. If that wasn’t enough this has been happening for a long time: their playoff drought of 14 seasons is the most extended in football. And with one of the worst owners in the league, it could last a long time.

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

Ravens Sink to 1-4

Sure, it’s easy to chalk up Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson being out. But a 44-10 blowout – the most lopsided home defeat in Ravens history – is shameful and even a talent like Jackson isn’t going to tip the scales if his defense, which admittedly has been ravaged by injuries, is godawful. Making matters worse, the Ravens defense barely resisted against the Texans. It was a big day for CJ Stroud, the Browns' star, and company.

Nevertheless, Jackson should be back in the next few weeks, they play in a relatively weak division and their remaining schedule is manageable, 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.

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

Bengals Fall to 2-3

The issue here is one moment: Burrow's year-ending ailment in the early season. Three weeks without Burrow has resulted in three losses. It’s almost painful to watch a pair of elite wideouts, the star receiver and Tee Higgins, performing well with no positive results. Chase hauled in a pair of big scores and 110 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 beating to one of the league’s best teams, the Detroit. But Cincinnati’s O did the majority of their work once the game was out of reach. Meanwhile, Burrow’s stand-in, Jake Browning, while promising in the final period against the Lions, has generally struggled. His three picks on Sunday sank the Bengals.

No team in football depends so much on the fitness of an individual like the Bengals do with Burrow. Hopeful supporters will highlight the fact that they will be a playoff team when Burrow is back next year, if he can avoid injury. But just five games into the current campaign, the campaign looks all but over for Cincinnati.

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

Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)

Release Maxx Crosby, who continues to be a rare positive in a unusual time of Raiders misery. Sunday’s 40-6 demolition to the Indianapolis was further evidence of the poor combination of the quarterback and Pete Carroll in the Nevada. Smith has been a giveaway factory, leading the league this season with nine interceptions. His two turnovers in Week 5 led to Indianapolis TDs. Nobody knows what the alternative is, but Plan A – being all in on Smith – is a hard-to-watch situation.

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

Wildcard alert! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)

Yes, they’re the reigning Super Bowl champions. And yes, they have lost just twice in 22 games. But between the star receiver and DeVonta Smith being disgruntled with their roles, supporter grievances about their slow-moving attack and the Philadelphia's uncertainty about head coach Nick Sirianni, you’d think the Eagles were 0-5. Yes, Sunday’s breakdown was worrisome: the Eagles squandered a significant margin to Denver in the fourth quarter thanks to multiple flags, an O that disappeared, and a D that was beaten and outthought by Sean Payton. Crazier things have happened. However, they were on the end of some controversial calls and are sharing the best record in their NFC. Where are the smiles?

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

Mention-Worthy: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

The Cardinals are mediocre rather than terrible, but their shameful 22-21 setback to the formerly victory-less Titans was incompetent. A turnover near the end zone from Emari Demercado, who assumed he had scored prematurely, followed by a muffed pick that led to a opposing TD sank the Cardinals. You couldn’t concoct this defeat if you attempted. Given that this, and their previous two losses, were on clutch field goals, 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 really don’t even know. That's Football Mistakes 101. I don’t know. It was crazy.”

Suffering Score: 3/10 – Does Kyler Murray remain the franchise QB?

Player of the Week

Carolina's Rico Dowdle, RB. Dowdle, replacing the hurt starter, {could do with a little more confidence|