We’re previous the quarter mark of the NFL season, which implies we’ve got a good suggestion of the trajectory of most groups. So let’s have fun the groups whose good vibes have evaporated after Week 5. Word that these aren’t essentially the worst groups within the league (the Titans and Browns, for instance, are horrible however are largely enjoying as anticipated) as a lot as those who’ve been most disappointing.
New York Jets (0-5)
The one winless staff within the league, the Jets test all of the distress bins. There have been devastating losses, beginning with Chris Boswell nailing a 60-yard game-winner for the Steelers in Week 1. And there have been blowouts like Sunday’s 37-22 defeat to the Cowboys, which was not practically as shut because the rating suggests. The Jets’ supposed power, their protection, turned the primary 0-5 unit with zero takeaways in NFL historical past. The Jets proceed to shoot themselves within the foot with penalties, turnovers, poor offensive line play, lack of fourth-down execution and uninspired teaching. In some way the Jets are getting worse by the week. If that wasn’t sufficient this has been happening for years: their playoff drought of 14 seasons is the longest within the NFL. And with one of many worst homeowners within the league, it may proceed for years to come back.
Distress ranking: 9/10 – How lengthy is Aaron Glenn’s leash?
Baltimore Ravens (1-4)
Positive, it’s simple to chalk up Baltimore’s loss to Houston on Sunday to Lamar Jackson’s absence. However 44-10 – the worst residence loss in staff historical past – is embarrassing and even a expertise like Jackson isn’t going to tip the scales if his protection, which in equity has been blighted by damage, is godawful. Even worse, the Ravens protection hardly put up a battle in opposition to the Texans. It was a discipline day for CJ Stroud, Nick Chubb, and firm.
Nonetheless, Jackson will in all probability return within the subsequent few weeks, they play in a comparatively weak division and their remaining schedule is delicate, so all hope is just not misplaced. However given how sloppy the Ravens have carried out with or with out Jackson, the hope-o-meter near empty.
Distress ranking: 6/10 – The Steelers in all probability gained’t run away with the division.
Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)
This one boils down to at least one second: Joe Burrow’s season-ending damage in Week 2. Three weeks with out Burrow has resulted in three losses. It’s nearly painful to look at two of the league’s greatest receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, doing their factor with nothing to point out for it. Chase hauled in two big touchdowns and 110 yards on Sunday in a 37-24 defeat to one of many league’s greatest groups, the Detroit Lions. However Cincinnati’s offense did many of the injury as soon as the end result was past doubt. In the meantime, Burrow’s backup, Jake Browning, whereas spectacular within the fourth quarter in opposition to the Lions, has largely been a catastrophe. His three interceptions on Sunday doomed the Bengals.
No franchise in soccer hinges on the well being of 1 participant just like the Bengals do with Burrow. Optimistic followers will level to the truth that they are going to be a playoff contender when Burrow returns subsequent season, if he can keep match. However solely 5 weeks into this season, the marketing campaign appears to be like all however over for Cincinnati.
Distress ranking: 6/10 – As soon as once more, Bengals followers are left to surprise at what may have been.
Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)
Free Maxx Crosby, who stays one of many solely vivid spots in a bizarre new period of Raiders distress. Sunday’s 40-6 blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts was one other demonstration of the disastrous pairing of Geno Smith and Pete Carroll within the desert. Smith has been a turnover machine, main the league this season with 9 interceptions. His two picks in Week 5 resulted in Indianapolis touchdowns. We’re unsure what Plan B is, however Plan A – being all in on Smith – is a really painful watch.
Distress ranking: 7/10 – OC Chip Kelly wants to vary course ASAP.
Wildcard alert! Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)
Sure, they’re the reigning Tremendous Bowl champions. And sure, they’ve misplaced simply twice in 22 video games. However between AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith being disgruntled with their roles, fan complaints about their sluggish offense and town’s continued skepticism about head coach Nick Sirianni, you’d assume the Eagles have been 0-5. Sure, Sunday’s collapse was regarding: the Eagles blew a 14-point result in Denver within the fourth quarter thanks to 5 penalties, an offense that pale horribly, and a Vic Fangio protection that was pummeled and outsmarted by Sean Payton. Crazier issues have occurred. Nonetheless, they have been on the tip of some controversial calls and are tied for the perfect document of their convention. The place are the grins?
Distress ranking: 3/10 – The vibes could also be off however the Eagles will attain the postseason once more.
Honorable point out: Arizona Cardinals (2-3)
The Cardinals are mediocre fairly than depressing, however their embarrassing 22-21 loss to the beforehand winless Titans was incompetent. A goalline fumble from Emari Demercado, who celebrated a 72-yard could be landing too quickly, adopted by a fumbled Cardinals interception that resulted in a Titans landing did Arizona in. You couldn’t concoct this loss if you happen to tried. On condition that this, and their earlier two losses, have been on game-winning discipline objectives, there can’t be a lot pleasure in Glendale today. “I don’t actually know what to consider that,” Kyler Murray mentioned after the sport. “I don’t even know. I actually don’t even know. That’s ‘The best way to Lose a Recreation 101.’ I don’t know. It was loopy.”
Distress ranking: 3/10 – Is Kyler Murray nonetheless the long run?
MVP of the week
Rico Dowdle, working again, Carolina Panthers. Dowdle, filling in for the injured Chuba Hubbard, may do with a bit of extra confidence. He instructed teammates this week he would rush for 180 yards in opposition to Miami. As an alternative, he rushed for 206 yards on 23 carries, tying him for the second-highest dashing whole in franchise historical past. Bruising runs of 53 and 43 yards from Dowdle within the second half fueled Carolina’s 27-24 comeback win over Miami. Dowdle is now chomping on the bit to face his former staff, the Dallas Cowboys, subsequent week. “They received to buckle up. I feel they know,” he instructed reporters.
Video of the week
One other week, one other flurry of controversial calls. But this penalty on Saints defensive finish Carl Granderson could take the cake for the worst roughing the passer name in NFL historical past. Roughing the passer has been typically mentioned because it was retooled in 2018 to guard quarterbacks extra totally. Some fouls are official acts of focusing on, however defenders are generally flagged for merely touchdown on the quarterback, unable to change their momentum. This play from Granderson on Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart didn’t even go that far. The errant name didn’t impression the result because the Saints topped the Giants 26-14, however not calling this a clear sack is ridiculous.
Stat of the week
4. That’s the variety of wins Daniel Jones has this yr with the Colts, the identical quantity he had in his final two years mixed with the New York Giants.
Indiana Jones, the artist previously generally known as Danny Dimes, continues to be one of many nice tales of the younger season. By way of 5 video games, Jones has thrown for 1,290 yards and 6 touchdowns and has rushed for 3 extra. The Colts offense dominated the Raiders as Jones led a balanced assault en path to a 40-6 rout. It helps to have Jonathan Taylor and a stable offensive line however this can be a very totally different Jones. He’s enjoying with confidence, his decision-making is sound, and he’s taking probabilities in tight home windows. Jones, together with Mac Jones and Sam Darnold, are proof that earlier than we label somebody a bust, let’s take into account their match.
Elsewhere across the league
— The Patriots could have a official quarterback on their arms. Drake Maye led New England in opposition to the (then) unbeaten Buffalo Payments on Sunday night time and got here away with a victory. He was notably spectacular within the ultimate minutes, with the groups tied at 20-20 and the Patriots driving for victory. One throw was harking back to Patrick Mahomes, as Maye fended off the 320lbs DaQuan Jones and accomplished a cross as he fell to the turf to Stefon Diggs, who completed with 146 receiving yards on his return to Buffalo. Moments later the Patriots had booted the game-winning discipline aim and Maye had the best victory of his skilled profession. There ought to be many extra to come back.
— Sure, Sunday’s win was over the 0-5 Jets, however Dak Prescott’s MVP bid is actual. Over the previous two video games, with out CeeDee Lamb and behind an offensive line full of backups, Prescott has thrown for 556 yards, seven touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Prescott was requested whether or not he heard M-V-P chants after Dallas’s 37-22 win over New York: “I imply, my ears work,” Prescott mentioned, “so I heard it, however I didn’t hear it. It’s Week 5. I don’t care.”
— It was a triumphant return from damage for Jayden Daniels who did sufficient to spark the Commanders to a powerful 27-10 highway win over the Chargers. Daniels, enjoying with a knee brace, completed 15-for-26 with 231 yards and landing. He added 39 dashing yards on eight carries. The Commanders sacked had 5 sacks on Justin Herbert, whose offensive line did little to guard him. The Chargers additionally made some pricey errors: fumbling once they had a 10-0 lead and driving for an additional rating, and having a punt return landing referred to as again for roughing the kicker.
— This week’s How Is This Nonetheless Occurring Award goes to Cardinals working again Emari Demercado. The error proved essential because the Cardinals misplaced to the Titans 22-21.
— Tua Tagovailoa had a pleasant statistical recreation in opposition to Carolina, throwing for 256 yards and three touchdowns, But it surely’s laborious to win soccer video games whenever you’re being sacked by your personal heart … to not point out permitting Carolina to erase a 17-point deficit. Yikes.
— It was an enchanting day from Vikings Jordan Addison. Kevin O’Connell benched the large receiver for the primary quarter of Minnesota’s matchup in opposition to Cleveland in London for lacking the staff walkthrough. A few hours later it was Addison who hauled in Carson Wentz’s game-winning landing cross with 25 seconds left. After the 21-17 win, fellow Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson mentioned he “had phrases” with Addison and vowed to verify his teammate’s “head is on straight.”
— The 49ers moved to 4-1 after an upset win 26-23 win over the Rams on Thursday, a testomony to Kyle Shanahan’s teaching, given the staff’s slew of accidents. With out Nick Bosa, Brock Purdy, George Kittle and so many others, the stagecoach turning right into a pumpkin feels proper across the nook. However a fairytale season is an actual risk as the remainder of the 49ers’ schedule is filled with groups at the moment beneath .500.
