New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens … Eagles? What squad is feeling the worst after the first five weeks of the season?
We are beyond the 25% point of the National Football League campaign, which indicates we have a good idea of the path of the majority of squads. So let’s examine the teams whose optimistic outlook have disappeared after Week 5. Keep in mind these are not exactly the most terrible squads in the league (the Titans and Cleveland Browns, for example, are terrible but are generally playing as expected) as much as the ones who have been biggest letdowns.
New York Jets: Winless at 0-5
The lone squad yet to win 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 far more lopsided than the score suggests. The Jets’ supposed strength, their D, became the first 0-5 team with no forced turnovers in NFL history. The Jets continue to hurt their own cause with infractions, turnovers, poor offensive line play, ineffective short-yardage play and uninspired coaching. Incredibly the Jets are getting worse by the week. If that wasn’t enough this has been a recurring issue: their postseason absence of over a decade is the league's lengthiest. And with one of the worst owners 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 simple to blame Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Jackson not playing. But a 44-10 blowout – the worst home loss in Ravens history – is embarrassing and even a star like Jackson can't overcome everything if his defensive unit, which admittedly has been blighted by injury, is awful. Compounding the issue, the Ravens defense barely resisted against the Texans. It was a productive outing for CJ Stroud, Nick Chubb, and company.
Nevertheless, Jackson is expected back in the next few weeks, they play in a softer division and their future games is soft, so all hope is not lost. But given how sloppy the Ravens have executed with or without Jackson, the confidence level is running on fumes.
Misery rating: 6/10 - The Steelers probably won’t run away with the division.
Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)
This one boils down to one moment: Joe Burrow's catastrophic injury in Week 2. Several weeks without Burrow has caused multiple setbacks. It’s hard to watch a pair of elite wideouts, Cincinnati's WR1 and the other starting receiver, making plays with little to celebrate. Chase grabbed a pair of big scores and over 100 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 beating to a top franchise, the Detroit. But Cincinnati’s offensive unit did the majority of their work once the outcome was decided. Simultaneously, Burrow’s stand-in, the backup passer, while notable in the final period against the Lions, has often been ineffective. His three picks on Sunday sank the Bengals.
No organization in football depends so much on the health of a single athlete like the Bengals do with Burrow. Positive followers will note the fact that they will be a postseason threat when Burrow comes back the following campaign, if he can stay fit. But just five games into the current campaign, the schedule looks practically done for Cincinnati.
Suffering Score: 6/10 – Bengals supporters are again pondering what might have been.
Raiders Drop to 1-4
Release Maxx Crosby, who continues to be one of the only bright spots in a unusual time of Silver and Black suffering. Sunday’s 40-6 blowout loss to the Colts was further evidence of the disastrous pairing of the signal-caller and Pete Carroll in the Nevada. Smith has been a turnover machine, ranking first this season with nine interceptions. His two picks in the fifth game produced Indianapolis TDs. We’re not sure what the backup plan is, but the primary strategy – being relying entirely on Smith – is a very painful watch.
Despair Index: 7/10 – Chip Kelly's offense requires immediate changes.
Wildcard alert! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)
Indeed, they’re the current title holders. And of course, they have lost just twice in 22 outings. But among the star receiver and the other receiver expressing dissatisfaction with their situations, fan complaints about their underperforming O and the Philadelphia's uncertainty about the head man, you’d think the Eagles were 0-5. Indeed, Sunday’s meltdown was alarming: the Eagles squandered a significant margin to Denver in the final period thanks to several infractions, an attack that vanished, and a defensive scheme that was pummeled and outsmarted by Sean Payton. Crazier things have happened. Still, they were on the receiving side of debated officiating and are sharing the top mark in their conference. What happened to the joy?
Misery rating: 3/10 - The vibes may be off but the Eagles will reach the postseason again.
Honorable mention: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)
The Cardinals are average rather than awful, but their shameful 22-21 loss to the until-then winless Titans was poorly played. A fumble at the goal line from the ball carrier, who prematurely celebrated a long run too soon, followed by a fumbled Cardinals interception that ended in a Titans touchdown did Arizona in. You couldn't invent this defeat if you wanted to. Since this, and their previous two losses, were on last-second kicks, there isn't much happiness in Cardinals territory these days. “I'm at a loss for words,” Kyler Murray said after the game. “I don’t even know. I truly don't understand. That's Football Mistakes 101. I can't explain. It was insane.”
Suffering Score: 3/10 – Does Kyler Murray remain the franchise QB?
MVP of the week
Carolina's Rico Dowdle, RB. The ball carrier, filling in for the hurt starter, {could do with a little more confidence|