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We are beyond the 25% point of the professional football season, which suggests we have a good idea of the path of the majority of squads. So let’s examine the teams whose optimistic outlook 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 awful but are generally playing as projected) as much as the ones who have been greatest underachievers.

Jets Remain at 0-5

The only winless team in the league, the Jets fit every criteria for despair. There have been crushing setbacks, starting with Chris Boswell drilling a 60-yard game-winner for the Steelers in the first game. And there have been blowouts like Sunday’s 37-22 beating to the Cowboys, which was much less competitive than the score suggests. The Jets’ presumed asset, their defensive unit, became the initial winless squad with no takeaways in league history. The Jets continue to shoot themselves in the foot with infractions, giveaways, weak O-line performance, failed fourth-down attempts and poor sideline leadership. Incredibly the Jets are deteriorating weekly. If that wasn’t enough this has been a recurring issue: their playoff-less streak of 14 years is the longest in the NFL. And with one of the worst owners in the league, it could continue for years.

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

Baltimore Ravens: Struggling at 1-4

Certainly, it’s easy to chalk up Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson being out. But a 44-10 blowout – the most lopsided home defeat in Ravens history – is shameful and even a star like Jackson can't overcome everything if his D, which in fairness 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, the running back, and the rest.

Still, Jackson is expected back 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 considering how messy the Ravens have played with or sans 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)

The issue here is one incident: Joe Burrow's catastrophic injury in the early season. Three weeks without Burrow has led to three losses. It’s almost painful to watch a pair of elite wideouts, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, performing well with little to celebrate. Chase grabbed two major TDs and over 100 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 beating to a top franchise, the Detroit. But Cincinnati’s offense did the bulk of the scoring once the game was out of reach. Simultaneously, Burrow’s backup, Jake Browning, while promising in the last quarter against the Lions, has often been ineffective. His three interceptions on Sunday sank the Bengals.

No organization in football relies so heavily on the health of an individual like the Bengals do with Burrow. Optimistic fans will note the fact that they will be a postseason threat when Burrow comes back next year, if he can remain healthy. But merely a month into this season, the schedule looks all but over for Cincinnati.

Suffering Score: 6/10 – Bengals supporters are again pondering what might have been.

Las Vegas Raiders: Stumbling at 1-4

Let Maxx Crosby go, who is still one of the only bright spots in a weird new era of Silver and Black suffering. Sunday’s 40-6 rout to the Colts was more proof of the ill-fated union of the signal-caller and Pete Carroll in the desert. Smith has been a turnover machine, topping the NFL this season with nine turnovers. His two turnovers in the latest contest produced Indianapolis TDs. Nobody knows what the backup plan is, but Plan A – being fully committed to Smith – is a hard-to-watch situation.

Despair Index: 7/10 – Chip Kelly's offense requires immediate changes.

Wildcard alert! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)

Yes, they’re the current title holders. And of course, they have only been defeated twice in 22 outings. But amid AJ Brown and the pass-catcher expressing dissatisfaction with their positions, supporter grievances about their underperforming O and the Philadelphia's uncertainty about coach Sirianni, you’d think the Eagles were winless. True, Sunday’s meltdown was worrisome: the Eagles blew a significant margin to Denver in the final period thanks to multiple flags, an O that disappeared, and a Vic Fangio defense that was pummeled and outsmarted by Sean Payton. Crazier things have happened. However, they were on the subject to debated officiating and are tied for the best record in their NFC. Why the long faces?

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

Mention-Worthy: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

The Cardinals are mediocre rather than miserable, but their embarrassing 22-21 setback to the until-then winless Titans was badly executed. A fumble at the goal line from the running back, who celebrated a 72-yard would be touchdown too soon, followed by a fumbled Cardinals interception that led to a Titans touchdown did Arizona in. You couldn’t concoct this defeat if you attempted. Since this, and their prior defeats, were on game-winning field goals, there is little celebration in Glendale these days. “I don’t really know what to think about that,” Kyler Murray said after the game. “I'm confused. I really don’t even know. That’s ‘How to Lose a Game 101.’ I'm not sure. It was unbelievable.”

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

Player of the Week

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