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We are beyond the 25% point of the NFL season, which means we have a good idea of the path of most teams. So let’s celebrate the teams whose optimistic outlook have disappeared after Week 5. Note that these are not exactly the worst teams in the league (the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, for example, are terrible but are largely 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 check all the misery boxes. There have been heartbreaking defeats, starting with Chris Boswell hitting a 60-yard game-winner for the Steelers in the season opener. And there have been routs like Sunday’s 37-22 beating to the Cowboys, which was far more lopsided than the score suggests. The Jets’ presumed asset, their defense, became the first 0-5 team with zero takeaways in professional football annals. The Jets continue to shoot themselves in the foot with penalties, giveaways, weak O-line performance, lack of fourth-down execution and poor sideline leadership. Amazingly the Jets are getting worse by the week. If that didn't suffice this has been going on for years: their playoff-less streak of over a decade is the longest in the NFL. And with a poorly-regarded owner in the league, it could last a long time.

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

Baltimore Ravens: Struggling at 1-4

Certainly, it’s simple to blame Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Jackson not playing. But a 44-10 scoreline – the worst home loss in franchise history – is shameful and even a star like Jackson can't overcome everything if his defensive unit, which admittedly has been blighted by injury, is terrible. Compounding the issue, the Ravens defense hardly put up a fight against the Texans. It was a productive outing for the Texans' passer, Nick Chubb, and their teammates.

However, Jackson should be back in the near future, they play in a relatively weak division and their future games is soft, so optimism remains. But given how sloppy the Ravens have performed with or sans Jackson, the hope-o-meter is close to empty.

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

Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)

This one boils down to one moment: Burrow's year-ending ailment in the second week. Several weeks without Burrow has caused a trio of defeats. It’s almost painful to watch a pair of elite wideouts, Cincinnati's WR1 and the other starting receiver, doing their thing with no positive results. Chase grabbed two major TDs and over 100 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 defeat to a top franchise, the Lions. But Cincinnati’s offense did the majority of their work once the outcome was decided. Meanwhile, Burrow’s replacement, the backup passer, while impressive in the final period against the Lions, has often been ineffective. His three picks on Sunday doomed the Bengals.

No franchise in football depends so much on the well-being of one player like the Bengals do with Burrow. Optimistic fans will point to the fact that they will be a playoff team when Burrow is back next season, if he can avoid injury. But just five games into the current campaign, the schedule looks practically done for Cincinnati.

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

Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)

Release Maxx Crosby, who continues to be a rare positive in a strange period of Raiders misery. Sunday’s 40-6 blowout loss to the Indianapolis was another demonstration of the poor combination of the signal-caller and the sideline leader in the desert. Smith has been a giveaway factory, ranking first this season with nine interceptions. His two turnovers in the latest contest resulted in Indianapolis touchdowns. We’re not sure what the backup plan is, but the primary strategy – being relying entirely on Smith – is a very painful watch.

Suffering Score: 7/10 – Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly must adjust quickly.

Wildcard alert! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)

Indeed, they’re the defending champions. And yes, they have only been defeated twice in 22 contests. But between AJ Brown and the other receiver being disgruntled with their positions, supporter grievances about their slow-moving attack and the Philadelphia's uncertainty about head coach Nick Sirianni, you’d think the Eagles were without a victory. Indeed, Sunday’s breakdown was alarming: the Eagles lost a 14-point lead to Denver in the final period thanks to five penalties, an offense that faded horribly, and a Vic Fangio defense that was pummeled and outsmarted by the Broncos' coach. Stranger events have occurred. Still, they were on the receiving side of some controversial calls and are sharing the top mark in their league. What happened to the joy?

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

Mention-Worthy: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

The Cardinals are average rather than awful, but their shameful 22-21 setback to the previously winless Titans was badly executed. A goalline fumble from Emari Demercado, who assumed he had scored early, followed by a muffed pick that resulted in a Titans touchdown did Arizona in. You couldn't invent this loss if you tried. Considering this, and their prior defeats, were on clutch field goals, there can’t be much joy in Arizona 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 don’t know. It was unbelievable.”

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

Top Performer

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