🔗 Share this article

We have passed the 25% point of the professional football season, which means we have a good idea of the trajectory of most teams. So let’s examine the teams whose good vibes have vanished after the latest round of games. Keep in mind these aren’t necessarily the lowest-ranked franchises in the league (the Titans and Browns, for example, are terrible but are largely playing as projected) as much as the ones who have been most disappointing.

New York Jets: Winless at 0-5

The sole franchise without a victory in the league, the Jets epitomize football suffering. There have been crushing setbacks, starting with Chris Boswell nailing a 60-yard game-winner for the Steelers in Week 1. And there have been one-sided contests like Sunday’s 37-22 beating to the Cowboys, which was far more lopsided than the numbers imply. The Jets’ supposed strength, their D, became the first 0-5 team with no takeaways in professional football annals. The Jets continue to make costly mistakes with infractions, mistakes, subpar blocking, failed fourth-down attempts and uninspired coaching. Somehow the Jets are getting worse by the week. If that didn't suffice this has been happening for a long time: their playoff drought of over a decade is the league's lengthiest. And with one of the worst owners in the league, it could last a long time.

Misery rating: 9/10 – How long is Aaron Glenn’s leash?

Ravens Sink to 1-4

Certainly, it’s simple to blame Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson being out. But a 44-10 blowout – the most lopsided home defeat in Ravens history – is humiliating and even a talent like Jackson can't overcome everything if his D, which to be fair has been plagued by health issues, is godawful. Even worse, the Ravens defense offered little resistance against the Texans. It was a field day for CJ Stroud, the running back, and their teammates.

Nevertheless, Jackson will probably return in the coming weeks, they play in a softer division and their upcoming slate is soft, so all hope is not lost. But based on how error-prone the Ravens have played with or sans 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 one boils down to one incident: Joe Burrow's catastrophic injury in the second week. A trio of games without Burrow has caused three losses. It’s difficult to watch a pair of elite wideouts, Cincinnati's WR1 and the talented wideout, doing their thing with nothing to show for it. Chase grabbed two major TDs and significant yardage on Sunday in a 37-24 beating to a top franchise, the Lions. But Cincinnati’s O did most of the damage once the game was out of reach. At the same time, Burrow’s backup, Jake Browning, while notable in the final period against the Lions, has generally struggled. His three turnovers on Sunday sank the Bengals.

No franchise in football depends so much on the well-being of a single athlete like the Bengals do with Burrow. Positive followers will highlight the fact that they will be a playoff team when Burrow returns next year, if he can stay fit. But merely a month into this season, the season looks all but over for Cincinnati.

Suffering Score: 6/10 – Bengals supporters are again pondering what might have been.

Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)

Free Maxx Crosby, who continues to be one of the few good things in a strange period of Las Vegas struggles. Sunday’s 40-6 rout to the Indianapolis Colts was further evidence of the poor combination of the quarterback and the sideline leader in the desert. Smith has been a giveaway factory, leading the league this season with nine picks. His two picks in the fifth game produced Indianapolis touchdowns. Nobody knows what the backup plan is, but the primary strategy – being fully committed to Smith – is a hard-to-watch situation.

Despair Index: 7/10 – Chip Kelly's offense requires immediate changes.

Surprise Entry! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)

Yes, they’re the current title holders. And yes, they have only been defeated twice in 22 games. But between AJ Brown and the other receiver expressing dissatisfaction with their positions, fan complaints about their underperforming O and the local doubt about coach Sirianni, you’d think the Eagles were winless. True, Sunday’s collapse was alarming: the Eagles blew a significant margin to Denver in the fourth quarter thanks to several infractions, an attack that vanished, and a D that was pummeled and outsmarted by Sean Payton. Crazier things have happened. Still, they were on the subject to questionable rulings and are tied for the best record in their league. What happened to the joy?

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

Also Noteworthy: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

The Cardinals are average rather than terrible, but their humiliating 22-21 loss to the formerly victory-less Titans was badly executed. A turnover near the end zone from the ball carrier, who celebrated a 72-yard would be touchdown prematurely, followed by a botched interception that ended in a opposing TD did Arizona in. You couldn’t concoct this defeat if you attempted. Since this, and their earlier setbacks, were on last-second kicks, there can’t be much joy in Arizona these days. “I don’t really know what to think about that,” the quarterback said after the game. “I don’t even know. I truly don't understand. That's Football Mistakes 101. I don’t know. It was crazy.”

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

Player of the Week

Rico Dowdle, running back, Carolina Panthers. The running back, replacing the injured Chuba Hubbard, {could do with a little more confidence|