Jets, Ravens … Eagles? What squad is feeling the worst after five weeks of the campaign?
We have passed the first quarter of the NFL season, which means we have a clear picture of the path of the majority of squads. So let’s examine the teams whose good vibes have disappeared after Week 5. Note that these aren’t necessarily the worst teams in the league (the Tennessee Titans and Browns, for example, are poor but are largely playing as expected) as much as the ones who have been most disappointing.
Jets Remain at 0-5
The only winless team in the league, the Jets check all the misery boxes. There have been devastating losses, starting with Chris Boswell hitting a 60-yard game-winner 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 not nearly as close than the numbers imply. The Jets’ presumed asset, their defense, became the first 0-5 unit with zero takeaways in league history. The Jets continue to hurt their own cause with penalties, mistakes, subpar blocking, failed fourth-down attempts and uninspired coaching. Amazingly the Jets are declining each game. If that wasn’t enough this has been happening for a long time: their playoff-less streak of 14 seasons is the league's lengthiest. And with a controversial franchise head in the league, it could persist indefinitely.
Despair Index: 9/10 – What is Aaron Glenn's future?
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 biggest home loss in team history – is shameful and even a star like Jackson won't single-handedly change things if his defensive unit, which admittedly has been plagued by health issues, is terrible. Making matters worse, the Ravens defense hardly put up a fight against the Texans. It was a field day for CJ Stroud, the Browns' star, and company.
However, Jackson should be back in the coming weeks, they play in a softer division and their future games is soft, so there's still a chance. But based on how error-prone the Ravens have played with or sans Jackson, the hope-o-meter is running on fumes.
Despair Index: 6/10 - The division is still within reach.
Cincinnati Bengals: Slipping to 2-3
This one boils down to one moment: Joe Burrow's catastrophic injury in the second week. Several weeks without Burrow has caused a trio of defeats. It’s hard to watch a pair of elite wideouts, Ja’Marr Chase and the other starting receiver, doing their thing with no positive results. Chase caught a pair of big scores and over 100 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 defeat to a top franchise, the Detroit. But Cincinnati’s offensive unit did the bulk of the scoring once the outcome was decided. At the same time, Burrow’s backup, the backup passer, while promising in the last quarter against the Lions, has often been ineffective. His three picks on Sunday sank the Bengals.
No team in football hinges on the health of one player like the Bengals do with Burrow. Optimistic fans will point to the fact that they will be a postseason threat when Burrow comes back next season, if he can avoid injury. 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.
Raiders Drop to 1-4
Let Maxx Crosby go, who is still one of the only bright spots in a strange period of Raiders misery. Sunday’s 40-6 rout to the Indianapolis Colts was more proof of the ill-fated union of the signal-caller and the sideline leader in the Nevada. Smith has been a mistake-prone player, leading the league this season with nine interceptions. His two picks in the latest contest resulted in Indianapolis touchdowns. Nobody knows what the backup plan is, but the current approach – being relying entirely on Smith – is a very painful watch.
Despair Index: 7/10 – Chip Kelly's offense requires immediate changes.
Surprise Entry! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)
Certainly, they’re the current title holders. And yes, they have only been defeated twice in 22 outings. But among the wideout and the pass-catcher being disgruntled with their positions, followers' criticism about their underperforming O and the Philadelphia's uncertainty about coach Sirianni, you’d think the Eagles were winless. True, Sunday’s breakdown was concerning: the Eagles blew a 14-point lead to Denver in the last quarter thanks to five penalties, an attack that vanished, and a Vic Fangio defense that was pummeled and outsmarted by the Broncos' coach. Crazier things have happened. However, they were on the end of questionable rulings and are tied for the leading standing in their conference. 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 mediocre rather than terrible, but their humiliating 22-21 setback to the previously winless Titans was poorly played. A fumble at the goal line from the ball carrier, who celebrated a 72-yard would be touchdown too soon, followed by a fumbled Cardinals interception that resulted in a Tennessee score cost Arizona the game. You couldn't invent this loss if you tried. Considering this, and their prior defeats, were on clutch field goals, there isn't much happiness in Cardinals territory these days. “I'm at a loss for words,” the signal-caller said after the game. “I don’t even know. I really don’t even know. That's a textbook example of losing. I don’t know. It was insane.”
Suffering Score: 3/10 – Does Kyler Murray remain the franchise QB?
MVP of the week
Carolina's Rico Dowdle, RB. Dowdle, substituting for the hurt starter, {could do with a little more confidence|