Jets, Ravens … Philadelphia Eagles? Which team is most miserable after Week 5 of the campaign?
We are beyond the 25% point of the National Football League campaign, which suggests we have a solid understanding of the path of many franchises. So let’s celebrate the teams whose positive energy have disappeared after Week 5. Remember these might not be the worst teams in the league (the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, for example, are awful but are largely playing as projected) as much as the ones who have been greatest underachievers.
Jets Remain at 0-5
The sole franchise without a victory in the league, the Jets fit every criteria for despair. There have been crushing setbacks, starting with Chris Boswell nailing a clutch 60-yard kick for the Steelers in the season opener. And there have been routs like Sunday’s 37-22 beating to the Cowboys, which was not nearly as close than the score suggests. The Jets’ supposed strength, their defense, became the first 0-5 team with no takeaways in league history. The Jets continue to shoot themselves in the foot with infractions, turnovers, poor offensive line play, failed fourth-down attempts and uninspired coaching. Incredibly the Jets are getting worse by the week. If that weren't sufficient this has been going on for years: their postseason absence of 14 years is the longest in the NFL. And with one of the worst owners in the league, it could continue for years.
Misery rating: 9/10 – How long is Aaron Glenn’s leash?
Baltimore Ravens (1-4)
Sure, it’s tempting to attribute Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson’s absence. But a 44-10 scoreline – the biggest home loss in Ravens history – is humiliating and even a player of Jackson's caliber isn’t going to tip the scales if his defensive unit, which to be fair has been plagued by health issues, is terrible. Even worse, the Ravens defense hardly put up a fight against the Texans. It was a field day for CJ Stroud, the running back, and their teammates.
Nevertheless, Jackson is expected back in the next few weeks, they play in a relatively weak division and their upcoming slate is manageable, so optimism remains. But given how sloppy the Ravens have executed with or without Jackson, the hope-o-meter is running on fumes.
Suffering Score: 6/10 - The AFC North remains up for grabs.
Cincinnati Bengals: Slipping to 2-3
This situation stems from one incident: Joe Burrow's catastrophic injury in the second week. A trio of games without Burrow has caused a trio of defeats. It’s hard to watch two top pass-catchers, Cincinnati's WR1 and Tee Higgins, performing well with little to celebrate. Chase grabbed two huge touchdowns and over 100 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 defeat to an elite squad, the Lions. But Cincinnati’s offensive unit did the bulk of the scoring once the result was beyond doubt. Meanwhile, Burrow’s replacement, the substitute QB, while promising in the last quarter against the Lions, has often been ineffective. His three interceptions on Sunday sank the Bengals.
No team in football depends so much on the health of an individual like the Bengals do with Burrow. Optimistic fans will note the fact that they will be a playoff contender when Burrow is back next year, if he can avoid injury. But merely a month into the present year, the campaign 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 remains one of the few good things in a strange period of Silver and Black suffering. Sunday’s 40-6 demolition to the Colts was more proof of the ill-fated union of Geno Smith and the sideline leader in the desert. Smith has been a turnover machine, ranking first this season with nine picks. His two interceptions in the latest contest produced Indianapolis scores. It's unclear what Plan B is, but Plan A – being relying entirely on Smith – is a hard-to-watch situation.
Suffering Score: 7/10 – Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly must adjust quickly.
Wildcard alert! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)
Indeed, they’re the defending champions. And admittedly, they have only been defeated twice in 22 games. But amid the wideout and DeVonta Smith being disgruntled with their situations, supporter grievances about their slow-moving attack and the local doubt about head coach Nick Sirianni, you’d think the Eagles were 0-5. Yes, Sunday’s collapse was concerning: the Eagles blew a two-score advantage to Denver in the fourth quarter thanks to several infractions, an O that disappeared, and a defensive scheme that was beaten and outthought by the opposing strategist. Crazier things have happened. Still, they were on the end of debated officiating and are tied for the leading standing in their conference. What happened to the joy?
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 loss to the until-then winless Titans was poorly played. A fumble at the goal line from the ball carrier, who assumed he had scored prematurely, followed by a muffed pick that resulted in a opposing TD sank the Cardinals. You couldn't invent this loss if you tried. Given that this, and their previous two losses, were on game-winning field goals, there isn't much happiness in Arizona these days. “I don’t really know what to think about that,” Kyler Murray said after the game. “I'm uncertain. I'm completely baffled. That's Football Mistakes 101. I don’t know. It was unbelievable.”
Suffering Score: 3/10 – Does Kyler Murray remain the franchise QB?
MVP of the week
Carolina's Rico Dowdle, RB. Dowdle, replacing the hurt starter, {could do with a little more confidence|