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We have passed the first quarter of the professional football season, which means we have a clear picture of the path of most teams. So let’s examine the teams whose optimistic outlook have disappeared after Week 5. Keep in mind these are not exactly the lowest-ranked franchises in the league (the Titans and Cleveland Browns, for example, are terrible but are generally playing as anticipated) as much as the ones who have been most disappointing.

Jets Remain at 0-5

The only winless team in the league, the Jets fit every criteria for despair. There have been devastating losses, starting with Chris Boswell drilling a 60-yard winning field goal for the Steelers in the season opener. And there have been routs like Sunday’s 37-22 defeat to the Cowboys, which was far more lopsided than the score suggests. The Jets’ supposed strength, their defensive unit, became the initial winless squad with no forced turnovers in professional football annals. The Jets continue to shoot themselves in the foot with penalties, giveaways, weak O-line performance, ineffective short-yardage play and poor sideline leadership. Amazingly the Jets are getting worse by the week. If that wasn’t enough this has been happening for a long time: their playoff drought of 14 seasons is the longest in the NFL. And with a controversial franchise head in the league, it could continue for years.

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

Ravens Sink to 1-4

Certainly, it’s tempting to attribute Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson’s absence. But a 44-10 blowout – the most lopsided home defeat in team history – is shameful and even a star like Jackson isn’t going to tip the scales if his D, which to be fair has been blighted by injury, is godawful. Compounding the issue, the Ravens defense hardly put up a fight against the Texans. It was a big day for Houston's QB, Nick Chubb, and their teammates.

Still, Jackson will probably return in the next few weeks, they play in a less competitive division and their remaining schedule is manageable, so all hope is not lost. But based on how error-prone the Ravens have performed with or sans Jackson, the confidence level is nearly depleted.

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 season-ending injury in Week 2. A trio of games without Burrow has resulted in a trio of defeats. It’s difficult to watch two top pass-catchers, Ja’Marr Chase and the other starting receiver, doing their thing with no positive results. Chase hauled in two major TDs and significant yardage on Sunday in a 37-24 loss to an elite squad, the Lions. But Cincinnati’s offense did the bulk of the scoring once the result was beyond doubt. 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 interceptions on Sunday sank the Bengals.

No organization in football relies so heavily on the health of one player like the Bengals do with Burrow. Optimistic fans will note the fact that they will be a postseason threat when Burrow is back next year, if he can stay fit. But only five weeks into the present year, the campaign looks essentially finished for Cincinnati.

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

Las Vegas Raiders: Stumbling at 1-4

Let Maxx Crosby go, who remains one of the few good things in a strange period of Silver and Black suffering. Sunday’s 40-6 rout to the Indianapolis was further evidence of the poor combination of the quarterback and the head coach in the Nevada. Smith has been a mistake-prone player, ranking first this season with nine interceptions. His two turnovers in Week 5 produced Indianapolis touchdowns. We’re not sure what Plan B is, but the primary strategy – being relying entirely on Smith – is a hard-to-watch situation.

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

Unexpected Mention: Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)

Indeed, they’re the defending champions. And yes, they have lost just twice in 22 contests. But among the wideout and the pass-catcher being disgruntled with their roles, fan complaints about their underperforming O and the city’s continued skepticism about the head man, you’d think the Eagles were winless. Indeed, Sunday’s collapse was alarming: the Eagles lost a two-score advantage to Denver in the final period thanks to multiple flags, an offense that faded horribly, and a D that was beaten and outthought by the opposing strategist. More surprising outcomes exist. However, they were on the receiving side of questionable rulings and are sharing the leading standing in their NFC. What happened to the joy?

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

Mention-Worthy: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

The Cardinals are mediocre rather than terrible, but their embarrassing 22-21 defeat to the previously winless Titans was badly executed. A turnover near the end zone from Emari Demercado, who prematurely celebrated a long run early, followed by a muffed pick that led to a Tennessee score cost Arizona the game. You couldn't invent this loss if you tried. Since this, and their prior defeats, were on last-second kicks, there isn't much happiness in Arizona these days. “I don’t really know what to think about that,” the quarterback said after the game. “I'm confused. I truly don't understand. That's Football Mistakes 101. I'm not sure. It was unbelievable.”

Despair Index: 3/10 – Is Murray the long-term answer?

Player of the Week

Rico Dowdle, running back, Carolina Panthers. The ball carrier, filling in for the injured Chuba Hubbard, {could do with a little more confidence|