Jets, Baltimore Ravens … Eagles? What squad is the unhappiest after the first five weeks of the season?

We’re past the 25% point of the professional football season, which indicates we have a good idea of the trajectory of the majority of squads. So let’s celebrate the teams whose optimistic outlook have evaporated after Week 5. Note that these are not exactly the worst teams in the league (the Titans and Browns, for example, are poor but are mostly playing as projected) as much as the ones who have been greatest underachievers.

Jets Remain at 0-5

The sole franchise without a victory in the league, the Jets epitomize football suffering. There have been devastating losses, starting with Chris Boswell drilling a 60-yard game-winner for the Steelers in Week 1. And there have been one-sided contests like Sunday’s 37-22 defeat to the Cowboys, which was not nearly as close than the numbers imply. The Jets’ supposed strength, their D, became the first 0-5 team with zero takeaways in league history. The Jets continue to shoot themselves in the foot with infractions, giveaways, subpar blocking, ineffective short-yardage play and lackluster coaching. Somehow the Jets are declining each game. If that weren't sufficient this has been happening for a long time: their playoff-less streak of 14 years is the longest in the NFL. And with a poorly-regarded owner in the league, it could persist indefinitely.

Despair Index: 9/10 – What is Aaron Glenn's future?

Ravens Sink to 1-4

Certainly, it’s tempting to attribute Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson being out. But a 44-10 blowout – the biggest home loss in Ravens history – is humiliating and even a player of Jackson's caliber won't single-handedly change things if his D, which admittedly has been blighted by injury, is terrible. Making matters worse, the Ravens defense offered little resistance against the Texans. It was a field day for Houston's QB, the Browns' star, and their teammates.

However, Jackson will probably return in the coming weeks, they play in a less competitive division and their future games is manageable, so optimism remains. But considering how messy the Ravens have performed with or sans Jackson, the optimism gauge is running on fumes.

Suffering Score: 6/10 - The AFC North remains up for grabs.

Bengals Fall to 2-3

The issue here is one moment: Joe Burrow's catastrophic injury in Week 2. A trio of games without Burrow has resulted in multiple setbacks. It’s difficult to watch two top pass-catchers, the star receiver and Tee Higgins, making plays with no positive results. Chase caught a pair of big scores and significant yardage on Sunday in a 37-24 loss to a top franchise, the Detroit Lions. But Cincinnati’s O did the bulk of the scoring once the outcome was decided. At the same time, Burrow’s stand-in, Jake Browning, while impressive in the last quarter against the Lions, has often been ineffective. His three interceptions on Sunday sank the Bengals.

No team in football hinges on the fitness of an individual like the Bengals do with Burrow. Positive followers will note the fact that they will be a playoff contender when Burrow returns next season, if he can avoid injury. But just five games into the present year, the season looks all but over for Cincinnati.

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

Raiders Drop to 1-4

Release Maxx Crosby, who continues to be a rare positive in a weird new era of Silver and Black suffering. Sunday’s 40-6 demolition to the Indianapolis was further evidence of the disastrous pairing 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 fifth game produced Indianapolis TDs. It's unclear what the backup plan is, but the current approach – being relying entirely on Smith – is a difficult viewing experience.

Misery rating: 7/10 – OC Chip Kelly needs to change course ASAP.

Wildcard alert! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)

Certainly, they’re the reigning Super Bowl champions. And yes, they have only been defeated twice in 22 contests. But between the wideout and the pass-catcher being disgruntled with their situations, followers' criticism about their slow-moving attack and the city’s continued skepticism about the head man, you’d think the Eagles were winless. Yes, Sunday’s breakdown was worrisome: the Eagles blew a significant margin to Denver in the last quarter thanks to multiple flags, an O that disappeared, and a D that was beaten and outthought by the Broncos' coach. Crazier things have happened. Nevertheless, they were on the end of debated officiating and are sharing the leading standing in their conference. 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 terrible, but their embarrassing 22-21 loss to the previously winless Titans was poorly played. A goalline fumble from Emari Demercado, who assumed he had scored early, followed by a muffed pick that led to a opposing TD sank the Cardinals. You couldn’t concoct this loss if you wanted to. Since this, and their prior defeats, were on game-winning field goals, there isn't much happiness in Arizona these days. “I'm not sure how to process that,” the quarterback said after the game. “I don’t even know. I really don’t even know. That’s ‘How to Lose a Game 101.’ I don’t know. It was crazy.”

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

Top Performer

Carolina's Rico Dowdle, RB. Dowdle, substituting for the absent Hubbard, {could do with a little more confidence|