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We’re past the 25% point of the professional football season, which indicates we have a clear picture of the direction of most teams. So let’s celebrate the teams whose optimistic outlook have disappeared after Week 5. Note that these might not be the lowest-ranked franchises in the league (the Titans and Browns, for example, are terrible but are generally 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 epitomize football suffering. There have been crushing setbacks, starting with Chris Boswell drilling a clutch 60-yard kick for the Steelers in Week 1. And there have been one-sided contests like Sunday’s 37-22 loss to the Cowboys, which was much less competitive than the numbers imply. The Jets’ supposed strength, their defensive unit, became the initial winless squad with no forced turnovers in league history. The Jets continue to make costly mistakes with flags, mistakes, poor offensive line play, failed fourth-down attempts and lackluster coaching. Amazingly the Jets are deteriorating weekly. If that wasn’t enough this has been going on for years: their playoff drought of over a decade is the most extended in football. And with a poorly-regarded owner in the league, it could persist indefinitely.

Suffering Score: 9/10 – Is Aaron Glenn's job safe?

Baltimore Ravens: Struggling at 1-4

Sure, it’s simple to blame Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Jackson not playing. But 44-10 – the most lopsided home defeat in Ravens history – is embarrassing and even a star like Jackson isn’t going to tip the scales if his D, which to be fair has been ravaged by injuries, is godawful. Compounding the issue, the Ravens defense barely resisted against the Texans. It was a productive outing for CJ Stroud, Nick Chubb, and the rest.

However, Jackson should be back in the coming weeks, they play in a less competitive division and their upcoming slate is favorable, so all hope is not lost. But based on how error-prone the Ravens have played regardless of Jackson, the hope-o-meter is close to empty.

Despair Index: 6/10 - The division is still within reach.

Bengals Fall to 2-3

The issue here is one moment: Joe Burrow's catastrophic injury in the early season. Three weeks without Burrow has caused three losses. It’s difficult to watch a pair of elite wideouts, Ja’Marr Chase and the other starting receiver, doing their thing with nothing to show for it. Chase caught two major TDs and 110 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 beating to a top franchise, the Detroit Lions. But Cincinnati’s offense did the bulk of the scoring once the outcome was decided. At the same time, Burrow’s stand-in, Jake Browning, while promising in the fourth quarter against the Lions, has mostly been a disaster. His three turnovers on Sunday doomed the Bengals.

No franchise in football hinges on the fitness of a single athlete like the Bengals do with Burrow. Positive followers will point to the fact that they will be a postseason threat when Burrow returns the following campaign, if he can remain healthy. But just five games into this season, the season looks all but over for Cincinnati.

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

Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)

Let Maxx Crosby go, who continues to be a rare positive in a weird new era of Las Vegas struggles. Sunday’s 40-6 demolition to the Indianapolis Colts was another demonstration of the poor combination of Geno Smith and the head coach in the Nevada. Smith has been a turnover machine, topping the NFL this season with nine picks. His two picks in the fifth game produced Indianapolis scores. We’re not sure what Plan B is, but Plan A – being all in on Smith – is a difficult viewing experience.

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 admittedly, they have lost just twice in 22 contests. But amid the star receiver and the pass-catcher being disgruntled with their situations, followers' criticism about their sluggish offense and the Philadelphia's uncertainty about the head man, you’d think the Eagles were winless. Indeed, Sunday’s meltdown was worrisome: the Eagles squandered a significant margin to Denver in the last quarter thanks to multiple flags, an O that disappeared, and a defensive scheme that was pummeled and outsmarted by the Broncos' coach. Crazier things have happened. Nevertheless, they were on the receiving side of questionable rulings and are equal with the leading standing in their league. Why the long faces?

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

Also Noteworthy: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

The Cardinals are mediocre rather than terrible, but their shameful 22-21 defeat to the until-then winless Titans was incompetent. A turnover near the end zone from the running back, who prematurely celebrated a long run prematurely, followed by a botched interception that resulted in a Tennessee score did Arizona in. You couldn't imagine this defeat if you wanted to. Considering this, and their previous two losses, were on last-second kicks, there can’t be much joy in Glendale these days. “I don’t really know what to think about that,” the signal-caller said after the game. “I don’t even know. I'm completely baffled. That’s ‘How to Lose a Game 101.’ I'm not sure. It was crazy.”

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

Top Performer

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