🔗 Share this article

We’re past the first quarter of the professional football season, which means we have a good idea of the trajectory of many franchises. So let’s celebrate the teams whose positive energy have evaporated after the latest round of games. Keep in mind these might not be the lowest-ranked franchises in the league (the Tennessee Titans and Browns, for example, are awful 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 drilling a 60-yard game-winner for the Steelers in the first game. And there have been one-sided contests like Sunday’s 37-22 loss to the Cowboys, which was much less competitive than the score suggests. The Jets’ supposed strength, their defense, became the first 0-5 unit with no takeaways in professional football annals. The Jets continue to make costly mistakes with flags, mistakes, poor offensive line play, failed fourth-down attempts and poor sideline leadership. Amazingly the Jets are getting worse by the week. If that didn't suffice this has been a recurring issue: their postseason absence of 14 years is the league's lengthiest. And with a poorly-regarded owner 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 simple to blame Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson’s absence. But a 44-10 scoreline – the worst home loss in Ravens history – is embarrassing and even a player of Jackson's caliber won't single-handedly change things if his defense, which to be fair has been blighted by injury, is awful. Even worse, the Ravens defense hardly put up a fight against the Texans. It was a productive outing for Houston's QB, Nick Chubb, and company.

Nevertheless, Jackson is expected back in the coming weeks, they play in a less competitive division and their remaining schedule is soft, so optimism remains. But based on how error-prone 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.

Bengals Fall to 2-3

This situation stems from a single play: Joe Burrow’s season-ending injury in Week 2. Three weeks without Burrow has led to multiple setbacks. It’s almost painful to watch two of the league’s best receivers, Cincinnati's WR1 and the other starting receiver, making plays with no positive results. Chase hauled in a pair of big scores and 110 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 beating to a top franchise, the Detroit. But Cincinnati’s offense did most of the damage once the game was out of reach. Meanwhile, Burrow’s stand-in, the substitute QB, while impressive in the last quarter against the Lions, has often been ineffective. His three picks on Sunday cost the Bengals.

No organization in football relies so heavily on the well-being of one player like the Bengals do with Burrow. Optimistic fans will highlight the fact that they will be a playoff team when Burrow returns next season, if he can remain healthy. But just five games into the present year, the schedule looks practically done for Cincinnati.

Despair Index: 6/10 – Cincinnati fans are left imagining alternate realities.

Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)

Free Maxx Crosby, who continues to be one of the few good things 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 signal-caller and the head coach in the desert. Smith has been a mistake-prone player, ranking first this season with nine interceptions. His two picks in Week 5 resulted in Indianapolis TDs. Nobody knows what Plan B is, but Plan A – being all in 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 reigning Super Bowl champions. And yes, they have lost just twice in 22 games. But between the wideout and the pass-catcher being disgruntled with their situations, followers' criticism about their slow-moving attack and the Philadelphia's uncertainty about the head man, you’d think the Eagles were winless. Yes, Sunday’s collapse was worrisome: the Eagles lost a 14-point lead to Denver in the final period thanks to five penalties, an attack that vanished, and a D that was beaten and outthought by Sean Payton. More surprising outcomes exist. Still, they were on the end of questionable rulings and are sharing the leading standing in their conference. Why the long faces?

Despair Index: 3/10 - Despite the mood, the Eagles are playoff-bound.

Honorable mention: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

The Cardinals are middle-of-the-road rather than miserable, but their shameful 22-21 defeat to the previously winless Titans was badly executed. A turnover near the end zone from the running back, who prematurely celebrated a long run too soon, followed by a botched interception that resulted in a Titans touchdown cost Arizona the game. You couldn't imagine this setback if you attempted. Given that this, and their prior defeats, were on clutch field goals, there is little celebration in Cardinals territory these days. “I don’t really know what to think about that,” Kyler Murray said after the game. “I'm confused. I really don’t even know. That's a textbook example of losing. I can't explain. It was unbelievable.”

Misery rating: 3/10 – Is Kyler Murray still the future?

Top Performer

Carolina's Rico Dowdle, RB. The running back, replacing the absent Hubbard, {could do with a little more confidence|