Jets, Baltimore Ravens … Eagles? Who is feeling the worst after Week 5 of the NFL season?
We have passed the quarter mark of the professional football season, which means we have a solid understanding of the trajectory of many franchises. So let’s examine the teams whose optimistic outlook have evaporated after Week 5. Note that these are not exactly the worst teams in the league (the Tennessee Titans and 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 lone squad yet to win in the league, the Jets fit every criteria for despair. There have been crushing setbacks, starting with Chris Boswell drilling a 60-yard winning field goal for the Steelers in Week 1. And there have been blowouts like Sunday’s 37-22 loss to the Cowboys, which was far more lopsided than the numbers imply. The Jets’ supposed strength, their defense, became the first 0-5 unit with no takeaways in professional football annals. The Jets continue to hurt their own cause with flags, giveaways, poor offensive line play, failed fourth-down attempts and lackluster coaching. Incredibly the Jets are getting worse by the week. If that weren't sufficient this has been happening for a long time: their postseason absence of 14 seasons is the league's lengthiest. And with one of the worst owners in the league, it could continue for years.
Despair Index: 9/10 – What is Aaron Glenn's future?
Baltimore Ravens (1-4)
Sure, it’s easy to chalk up Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson being out. But 44-10 – the most lopsided home defeat in team history – is humiliating and even a star like Jackson can't overcome everything if his defensive unit, which admittedly has been plagued by health issues, is godawful. Even worse, the Ravens defense hardly put up a fight against the Texans. It was a field day for the Texans' passer, Nick Chubb, and company.
Nevertheless, Jackson will probably return in the next few weeks, they play in a softer division and their remaining schedule is soft, so optimism remains. But given how sloppy the Ravens have executed with or sans 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: Joe Burrow’s season-ending injury in the second week. Three weeks without Burrow has led to multiple setbacks. It’s almost painful to watch two top pass-catchers, Cincinnati's WR1 and Tee Higgins, performing well with nothing to show for it. Chase hauled in a pair of big scores and over 100 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 defeat to one of the league’s best teams, the Detroit Lions. But Cincinnati’s O did the majority of their work once the game was out of reach. Meanwhile, Burrow’s replacement, the backup passer, while impressive in the last quarter against the Lions, has often been ineffective. His three interceptions on Sunday doomed the Bengals.
No organization in football hinges on the fitness of one player like the Bengals do with Burrow. Optimistic fans will highlight the fact that they will be a postseason threat when Burrow is back the following campaign, if he can remain healthy. But only five weeks into the current campaign, the schedule looks essentially finished for Cincinnati.
Despair Index: 6/10 – Cincinnati fans are left imagining alternate realities.
Las Vegas Raiders: Stumbling at 1-4
Release Maxx Crosby, who is still a rare positive in a strange period of Silver and Black suffering. Sunday’s 40-6 blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts was another demonstration of the poor combination of Geno Smith and the head coach in the desert. Smith has been a mistake-prone player, ranking first this season with nine interceptions. His two interceptions in the latest contest resulted in Indianapolis TDs. Nobody knows what the backup plan is, but the current approach – being fully committed to 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 yes, they have only been defeated twice in 22 games. But among the star receiver and the other receiver being disgruntled with their situations, supporter grievances about their underperforming O and the local doubt about coach Sirianni, you’d think the Eagles were without a victory. Yes, Sunday’s collapse was alarming: the Eagles lost a two-score advantage to Denver in the fourth quarter thanks to five penalties, an offense that faded horribly, and a D that was dominated and outcoached by the opposing strategist. More surprising outcomes exist. Nevertheless, they were on the subject to some controversial calls and are tied for the best record in their league. Where are the smiles?
Suffering Score: 3/10 - The atmosphere might be negative but Philadelphia will make the playoffs.
Honorable mention: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)
The Cardinals are middle-of-the-road rather than miserable, but their humiliating 22-21 loss to the until-then winless Titans was badly executed. A goalline fumble from the running back, who prematurely celebrated a long run early, followed by a botched interception that ended in a Tennessee score sank the Cardinals. You couldn’t concoct this defeat if you tried. Given that this, and their previous two losses, were on last-second kicks, there is little celebration in Glendale these days. “I don’t really know what to think about that,” Kyler Murray said after the game. “I don’t even know. I really don’t even know. That's Football Mistakes 101. I'm not sure. It was insane.”
Despair Index: 3/10 – Is Murray the long-term answer?
Top Performer
Rico Dowdle, running back, Carolina Panthers. The running back, replacing the injured Chuba Hubbard, {could do with a little more confidence|
