Jets, Baltimore Ravens … Eagles? Which team is the unhappiest after the first five weeks of the campaign?

We are beyond the first quarter of the NFL season, which means we have a clear picture of the direction of most teams. So let’s celebrate the teams whose positive energy have evaporated after the fifth week. Note that these aren’t necessarily the most terrible squads in the league (the Titans and Browns, for example, are poor but are mostly playing as expected) as much as the ones who have been most disappointing.

New York Jets (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 Week 1. And there have been routs like Sunday’s 37-22 beating to the Cowboys, which was not nearly as close than the score suggests. The Jets’ presumed asset, their D, became the first 0-5 unit with no takeaways in NFL history. The Jets continue to hurt their own cause with flags, giveaways, poor offensive line play, lack of fourth-down execution and uninspired coaching. Amazingly the Jets are getting worse by the week. If that didn't suffice this has been going on for years: their postseason absence of 14 years is the most extended in football. 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: Struggling at 1-4

Admittedly, it’s simple to blame Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Jackson not playing. But a 44-10 scoreline – the most lopsided home defeat in team history – is shameful and even a talent like Jackson won't single-handedly change things if his D, which in fairness has been blighted by injury, is awful. Making matters worse, the Ravens defense barely resisted against the Texans. It was a field day for the Texans' passer, Nick Chubb, and their teammates.

Still, Jackson will probably return in the next few weeks, they play in a less competitive division and their future games is soft, so all hope is not lost. But based on how error-prone the Ravens have executed 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 (2-3)

This one boils down to a single play: Joe Burrow’s season-ending injury in the second week. Three weeks without Burrow has resulted in a trio of defeats. It’s almost painful to watch a pair of elite wideouts, Ja’Marr Chase and the talented wideout, doing their thing with little to celebrate. Chase caught two major TDs and over 100 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 loss to an elite squad, the Lions. But Cincinnati’s O did the bulk of the scoring once the result was beyond doubt. Simultaneously, Burrow’s replacement, the backup passer, while impressive in the final period against the Lions, has mostly been a disaster. His three turnovers on Sunday sank the Bengals.

No franchise in football depends so much on the well-being of an individual like the Bengals do with Burrow. Positive followers will highlight the fact that they will be a playoff team when Burrow comes back next year, if he can avoid injury. But just five games into the current campaign, the schedule looks essentially finished for Cincinnati.

Misery rating: 6/10 – Once again, Bengals fans are left to wonder at what could have been.

Raiders Drop to 1-4

Release Maxx Crosby, who remains one of the few good things in a strange period of Las Vegas struggles. Sunday’s 40-6 demolition to the Indianapolis Colts was further evidence of the disastrous pairing of the signal-caller and the sideline leader in the Nevada. Smith has been a giveaway factory, ranking first this season with nine picks. His two picks in Week 5 led to Indianapolis TDs. We’re not sure what Plan B 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)

Indeed, they’re the reigning Super Bowl champions. And of course, they have only been defeated twice in 22 games. But between the star receiver and the other receiver being disgruntled with their positions, fan complaints about their sluggish offense and the local doubt about the head man, you’d think the Eagles were without a victory. Yes, Sunday’s collapse was concerning: the Eagles lost a 14-point lead to Denver in the final period thanks to several infractions, an attack that vanished, and a defensive scheme that was beaten and outthought by the Broncos' coach. More surprising outcomes exist. Still, they were on the subject to some controversial calls and are equal with the best record in their conference. Why the long faces?

Suffering Score: 3/10 - The atmosphere might be negative but Philadelphia will make the playoffs.

Mention-Worthy: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

The Cardinals are average rather than awful, but their humiliating 22-21 setback to the formerly victory-less Titans was poorly played. A goalline fumble from Emari Demercado, who celebrated a 72-yard would be touchdown too soon, followed by a fumbled Cardinals interception that led to a Tennessee score cost Arizona the game. You couldn't invent this loss if you wanted to. Given that this, and their previous two losses, were on last-second kicks, there isn't much happiness in Glendale these days. “I'm at a loss for words,” Kyler Murray said after the game. “I don’t even know. I really don’t even know. That's Football Mistakes 101. I can't explain. It was unbelievable.”

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

Player of the Week

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