Jets, Ravens … Eagles? Who is feeling the worst after five weeks of the season?
We are beyond the first quarter of the National Football League campaign, which means we have a solid understanding of the trajectory of most teams. So let’s celebrate the teams whose good vibes have disappeared after the latest round of games. Remember these might not be the lowest-ranked franchises in the league (the Tennessee Titans and Browns, for example, are poor but are mostly playing as anticipated) 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 check all the misery boxes. There have been crushing setbacks, starting with Chris Boswell nailing a clutch 60-yard kick for the Steelers in Week 1. And there have been routs like Sunday’s 37-22 loss to the Cowboys, which was far more lopsided than the final score indicates. The Jets’ presumed asset, their defense, became the first 0-5 unit with zero takeaways in league history. The Jets continue to shoot themselves in the foot with flags, mistakes, poor offensive line play, ineffective short-yardage play and poor sideline leadership. Incredibly the Jets are deteriorating weekly. If that wasn’t enough this has been happening for a long time: their postseason absence of 14 seasons is the league's lengthiest. And with a poorly-regarded owner in the league, it could persist indefinitely.
Misery rating: 9/10 – How long is Aaron Glenn’s leash?
Ravens Sink to 1-4
Sure, it’s simple to blame Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson being out. But a 44-10 scoreline – the worst home loss in Ravens history – is embarrassing and even a talent like Jackson isn’t going to tip the scales if his defense, which in fairness has been blighted by injury, is terrible. Compounding the issue, the Ravens defense offered little resistance against the Texans. It was a productive outing for CJ Stroud, the Browns' star, and the rest.
Nevertheless, Jackson is expected back in the coming weeks, they play in a less competitive division and their remaining schedule is soft, so optimism remains. But based on how error-prone the Ravens have executed with or without Jackson, the confidence level is running on fumes.
Suffering Score: 6/10 - The AFC North remains up for grabs.
Bengals Fall to 2-3
The issue here is one incident: Burrow's year-ending ailment in Week 2. Three weeks without Burrow has led to three losses. It’s almost painful to watch two top pass-catchers, Cincinnati's WR1 and the talented wideout, doing their thing with nothing to show for it. Chase caught a pair of big scores and over 100 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 beating to an elite squad, the Detroit. But Cincinnati’s O did the majority of their work once the result was beyond doubt. Meanwhile, Burrow’s backup, Jake Browning, while promising in the final period against the Lions, has often been ineffective. His three turnovers on Sunday doomed the Bengals.
No team in football hinges on the well-being of one player like the Bengals do with Burrow. Optimistic fans will highlight the fact that they will be a postseason threat when Burrow returns next season, if he can remain healthy. But only five weeks into this season, the season looks essentially finished for Cincinnati.
Despair Index: 6/10 – Cincinnati fans are left imagining alternate realities.
Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)
Let Maxx Crosby go, who continues to be one of the only bright spots in a unusual time of Raiders misery. Sunday’s 40-6 demolition to the Indianapolis was another demonstration of the disastrous pairing of Geno Smith and the head coach in the desert. Smith has been a turnover machine, leading the league this season with nine picks. His two turnovers in the latest contest resulted in Indianapolis scores. It's unclear what Plan B is, but the primary strategy – being fully committed to Smith – is a difficult viewing experience.
Despair Index: 7/10 – Chip Kelly's offense requires immediate changes.
Unexpected Mention: Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)
Indeed, they’re the reigning Super Bowl champions. And of course, they have lost just twice in 22 contests. But amid the wideout and the pass-catcher expressing dissatisfaction with their situations, fan complaints about their underperforming O and the local doubt about coach Sirianni, you’d think the Eagles were without a victory. Yes, Sunday’s breakdown was concerning: the Eagles squandered a significant margin to Denver in the fourth quarter thanks to multiple flags, an O that disappeared, and a defensive scheme that was dominated and outcoached by the opposing strategist. Stranger events have occurred. However, they were on the receiving side of questionable rulings and are tied for the top mark in their league. Why the long faces?
Suffering Score: 3/10 - The atmosphere might be negative but Philadelphia will make the playoffs.
Mention-Worthy: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)
The Cardinals are middle-of-the-road rather than awful, but their shameful 22-21 setback to the until-then winless Titans was badly executed. A goalline fumble from Emari Demercado, who prematurely celebrated a long run too soon, followed by a botched interception that resulted in a Titans touchdown cost Arizona the game. You couldn’t concoct this defeat if you tried. Given that this, and their previous two losses, were on clutch field goals, there can’t be much joy in Cardinals territory these days. “I'm not sure how to process that,” the signal-caller said after the game. “I'm uncertain. I truly don't understand. That's Football Mistakes 101. I'm not sure. It was insane.”
Misery rating: 3/10 – Is Kyler Murray still the future?
Top Performer
Panthers RB Rico Dowdle. The ball carrier, filling in for the injured Chuba Hubbard, {could do with a little more confidence|
