Jets, Baltimore Ravens … Eagles? Who is feeling the worst after Week 5 of the NFL season?
We’re past the first quarter of the NFL season, which means we have a good idea of the trajectory of many franchises. So let’s highlight the teams whose optimistic outlook have disappeared after the latest round of games. Keep in mind these are not exactly the worst teams in the league (the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, for example, are poor but are largely playing as expected) as much as the ones who have been biggest letdowns.
Jets Remain at 0-5
The only winless team in the league, the Jets epitomize football suffering. There have been heartbreaking defeats, starting with Chris Boswell hitting a 60-yard winning field goal for the Steelers in Week 1. And there have been routs like Sunday’s 37-22 loss to the Cowboys, which was much less competitive than the numbers imply. The Jets’ supposed strength, their defense, became the first 0-5 team with no takeaways in NFL history. The Jets continue to hurt their own cause with flags, mistakes, poor offensive line play, failed fourth-down attempts and poor sideline leadership. Incredibly the Jets are getting worse by the week. If that didn't suffice 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 persist indefinitely.
Misery rating: 9/10 – How long is Aaron Glenn’s leash?
Ravens Sink to 1-4
Admittedly, it’s tempting to attribute Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Jackson not playing. But a 44-10 blowout – the most lopsided home defeat in team history – is humiliating and even a player of Jackson's caliber won't single-handedly change things if his defensive unit, which admittedly has been blighted by injury, is godawful. Making matters worse, the Ravens defense barely resisted against the Texans. It was a field day for CJ Stroud, the Browns' star, and company.
Nevertheless, Jackson will probably return in the near future, they play in a relatively weak division and their remaining schedule is manageable, so optimism remains. But given how sloppy the Ravens have executed regardless of Jackson, the optimism gauge is running on fumes.
Misery rating: 6/10 - The Steelers probably won’t run away with the division.
Cincinnati Bengals: Slipping to 2-3
The issue here is one moment: Joe Burrow's catastrophic injury in Week 2. Three weeks without Burrow has caused a trio of defeats. It’s hard to watch two of the league’s best receivers, the star receiver and the other starting receiver, making plays with little to celebrate. Chase grabbed two huge touchdowns and 110 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 defeat to a top franchise, the Detroit Lions. But Cincinnati’s offensive unit did the bulk of the scoring once the result was beyond doubt. Simultaneously, Burrow’s stand-in, Jake Browning, while notable in the last quarter against the Lions, has often been ineffective. His three interceptions on Sunday cost the Bengals.
No franchise in football depends so much on the fitness of an individual like the Bengals do with Burrow. Positive followers will note the fact that they will be a playoff team when Burrow is back the following campaign, if he can avoid injury. But just five games 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 remains a rare positive in a weird new era of Las Vegas struggles. Sunday’s 40-6 demolition to the Indianapolis was more proof of the disastrous pairing of the quarterback and the head coach in the Nevada. Smith has been a giveaway factory, leading the league this season with nine interceptions. His two interceptions in Week 5 produced Indianapolis TDs. It's unclear what Plan B is, but Plan A – being fully committed to Smith – is a difficult viewing experience.
Despair Index: 7/10 – Chip Kelly's offense requires immediate changes.
Surprise Entry! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)
Certainly, they’re the defending champions. And admittedly, they have lost just twice in 22 games. But amid the wideout and the pass-catcher showing frustration with their situations, followers' criticism about their underperforming O and the city’s continued skepticism about head coach Nick Sirianni, you’d think the Eagles were winless. Indeed, Sunday’s meltdown was concerning: the Eagles lost a two-score advantage to Denver in the fourth quarter thanks to five penalties, an O that disappeared, and a defensive scheme that was dominated and outcoached by the Broncos' coach. More surprising outcomes exist. Nevertheless, they were on the subject to some controversial calls and are sharing the best record in their NFC. 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 average rather than terrible, but their shameful 22-21 defeat to the formerly victory-less Titans was poorly played. A fumble at the goal line from the running back, who celebrated a 72-yard would be touchdown early, followed by a botched interception that ended in a Tennessee score cost Arizona the game. You couldn't imagine this defeat if you tried. Since this, and their previous two losses, were on last-second kicks, there isn't much happiness in Glendale these days. “I'm at a loss for words,” Kyler Murray said after the game. “I'm uncertain. I really don’t even know. That's a textbook example of losing. I don’t know. It was insane.”
Misery rating: 3/10 – Is Kyler Murray still the future?
Player of the Week
Rico Dowdle, running back, Carolina Panthers. The ball carrier, replacing the injured Chuba Hubbard, {could do with a little more confidence|