New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens … Philadelphia Eagles? Who is most miserable after five weeks of the NFL season?
We have passed the 25% point of the NFL season, which indicates we have a clear picture of the path of many franchises. So let’s examine the teams whose positive energy have vanished after Week 5. Remember these might not be the lowest-ranked franchises in the league (the Titans and Cleveland Browns, for example, are awful but are mostly playing as projected) as much as the ones who have been greatest underachievers.
Jets Remain at 0-5
The only winless team in the league, the Jets fit every criteria for despair. There have been crushing setbacks, starting with Chris Boswell drilling a 60-yard game-winner for the Steelers in Week 1. And there have been routs like Sunday’s 37-22 beating 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 no takeaways in professional football annals. The Jets continue to shoot themselves in the foot with penalties, giveaways, weak O-line performance, lack of fourth-down execution and poor sideline leadership. Amazingly the Jets are getting worse by the week. If that wasn’t enough this has been a recurring issue: their postseason absence of 14 seasons is the longest in the NFL. And with a controversial franchise head in the league, it could last a long time.
Misery rating: 9/10 – How long is Aaron Glenn’s leash?
Baltimore Ravens (1-4)
Certainly, it’s simple to blame Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson being out. But 44-10 – the worst home loss in franchise history – is embarrassing and even a talent like Jackson won't single-handedly change things if his defense, which in fairness has been blighted by injury, is terrible. Even worse, the Ravens defense barely resisted against the Texans. It was a big day for the Texans' passer, the Browns' star, and company.
However, Jackson should be back in the next few weeks, they play in a less competitive division and their future games is soft, so all hope is not lost. But based on how error-prone the Ravens have executed regardless of Jackson, the optimism gauge is nearly depleted.
Suffering Score: 6/10 - The AFC North remains up for grabs.
Cincinnati Bengals: Slipping to 2-3
This situation stems from one moment: Burrow's year-ending ailment in the early season. Three weeks without Burrow has led to multiple setbacks. It’s hard to watch two top pass-catchers, the star receiver and Tee Higgins, performing well with nothing to show for it. Chase caught a pair of big scores and over 100 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 loss to an elite squad, the Detroit Lions. But Cincinnati’s offense did most of the damage once the game was out of reach. At the same time, Burrow’s replacement, Jake Browning, while promising in the last quarter against the Lions, has mostly been a disaster. His three turnovers on Sunday cost the Bengals.
No organization in football depends so much on the fitness of a single athlete like the Bengals do with Burrow. Hopeful supporters will point to the fact that they will be a postseason threat when Burrow comes back next season, if he can remain healthy. But just five games into the current campaign, the schedule looks essentially finished for Cincinnati.
Misery rating: 6/10 – Once again, Bengals fans are left to wonder at what could have been.
Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)
Let Maxx Crosby go, who remains one of the only bright spots in a weird new era of Silver and Black suffering. Sunday’s 40-6 blowout loss to the Colts was another demonstration of the ill-fated union of Geno Smith and the sideline leader in the desert. Smith has been a turnover machine, leading the league this season with nine interceptions. His two interceptions in the latest contest resulted in Indianapolis touchdowns. Nobody knows what the alternative is, but the primary strategy – being relying entirely on Smith – is a very painful watch.
Misery rating: 7/10 – OC Chip Kelly needs to change course ASAP.
Wildcard alert! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)
Yes, they’re the current title holders. And yes, they have suffered merely two losses in 22 outings. But between the wideout and DeVonta Smith being disgruntled with their situations, followers' criticism about their sluggish offense and the Philadelphia's uncertainty about the head man, you’d think the Eagles were 0-5. Yes, Sunday’s meltdown was concerning: the Eagles blew a two-score advantage to Denver in the final period thanks to multiple flags, an offense that faded horribly, and a defensive scheme that was beaten and outthought by the Broncos' coach. Crazier things have happened. Nevertheless, they were on the receiving side of debated officiating and are equal with the top mark in their league. Where are the smiles?
Suffering Score: 3/10 - The atmosphere might be negative but Philadelphia will make the playoffs.
Mention-Worthy: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)
The Cardinals are mediocre rather than awful, but their humiliating 22-21 loss to the previously winless Titans was incompetent. A turnover near the end zone from Emari Demercado, who assumed he had scored early, followed by a botched interception that ended in a opposing TD sank the Cardinals. You couldn't imagine this setback if you tried. Since this, and their earlier setbacks, were on last-second kicks, 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 don’t even know. I really don’t even know. That’s ‘How to Lose a Game 101.’ I'm not sure. It was insane.”
Misery rating: 3/10 – Is Kyler Murray still the future?
Player of the Week
Carolina's Rico Dowdle, RB. The running back, filling in for the injured Chuba Hubbard, {could do with a little more confidence|