New York Jets, Ravens … Eagles? Which team is most miserable after the first five weeks of the season?

We’re past the first quarter of the National Football League campaign, which means we have a good idea of the path of most teams. So let’s highlight the teams whose good vibes have disappeared after Week 5. Remember these might not be the worst teams in the league (the Titans and Browns, for example, are poor but are largely playing as expected) as much as the ones who have been most disappointing.

Jets Remain at 0-5

The only winless team in the league, the Jets check all the misery boxes. There have been crushing setbacks, starting with Chris Boswell nailing a 60-yard winning field goal for the Steelers in the season opener. And there have been one-sided contests like Sunday’s 37-22 loss to the Cowboys, which was far more lopsided than the score suggests. The Jets’ alleged strong point, their D, became the first 0-5 team with zero takeaways in professional football annals. The Jets continue to make costly mistakes with flags, mistakes, subpar blocking, failed fourth-down attempts and uninspired coaching. Incredibly the Jets are deteriorating weekly. If that weren't sufficient this has been happening for a long time: their playoff-less streak of over a decade is the most extended in football. And with a poorly-regarded owner 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

Sure, it’s easy to chalk up Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Jackson not playing. But a 44-10 scoreline – 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 admittedly has been blighted by injury, is godawful. Compounding the issue, the Ravens defense barely resisted against the Texans. It was a field day for Houston's QB, Nick Chubb, and their teammates.

However, Jackson will probably return in the coming weeks, they play in a softer division and their remaining schedule is soft, so optimism remains. But based on how error-prone the Ravens have played with or without Jackson, the hope-o-meter 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 incident: Joe Burrow’s season-ending injury in the early season. Three weeks without Burrow has resulted in a trio of defeats. It’s hard to watch a pair of elite wideouts, Ja’Marr Chase and the talented wideout, performing well with no positive results. Chase grabbed two major TDs and significant yardage on Sunday in a 37-24 loss to an elite squad, the Lions. But Cincinnati’s offensive unit did the majority of their work once the outcome was decided. At the same time, Burrow’s stand-in, Jake Browning, while promising in the final period against the Lions, has often been ineffective. His three interceptions on Sunday doomed the Bengals.

No franchise in football depends so much on the health of a single athlete like the Bengals do with Burrow. Optimistic fans will highlight the fact that they will be a playoff team when Burrow is back the following campaign, if he can avoid injury. But only five weeks into the current campaign, the campaign looks essentially finished for Cincinnati.

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

Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)

Release Maxx Crosby, who is still one of the only bright spots in a strange period of Las Vegas struggles. Sunday’s 40-6 blowout loss to the Indianapolis was another demonstration of the poor combination of the quarterback and the head coach in the desert. Smith has been a mistake-prone player, ranking first this season with nine turnovers. His two interceptions in the latest contest led to Indianapolis touchdowns. Nobody knows what the alternative is, but Plan A – 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)

Indeed, they’re the reigning Super Bowl champions. And of course, they have lost just twice in 22 contests. But among the star receiver and DeVonta Smith showing frustration with their positions, fan complaints about their underperforming O and the city’s continued skepticism about the head man, you’d think the Eagles were without a victory. Yes, Sunday’s collapse was worrisome: the Eagles squandered a significant margin to Denver in the fourth quarter thanks to five penalties, an offense that faded horribly, and a defensive scheme that was pummeled and outsmarted by Sean Payton. More surprising outcomes exist. However, they were on the receiving side of debated officiating and are sharing the leading standing in their NFC. Why the long faces?

Misery rating: 3/10 - The vibes may be off but the Eagles will reach the postseason again.

Honorable mention: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

The Cardinals are middle-of-the-road rather than awful, but their embarrassing 22-21 setback to the formerly victory-less Titans was badly executed. A goalline fumble from Emari Demercado, who prematurely celebrated a long run prematurely, followed by a fumbled Cardinals interception that ended in a opposing TD did Arizona in. You couldn't imagine this loss if you attempted. Since this, and their prior defeats, were on last-second kicks, there isn't much happiness in Cardinals territory these days. “I don’t really know what to think about that,” Kyler Murray said after the game. “I'm uncertain. I'm completely baffled. That's a textbook example of losing. I don’t know. It was unbelievable.”

Suffering Score: 3/10 – Does Kyler Murray remain the franchise QB?

MVP of the week


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

Anita Owens
Anita Owens

A forward-thinking entrepreneur and tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and startup consulting.