Five weeks are officially in the books, and some teams are running out of excuses.
We were told not to overreact after Week 1. Then we heard the same thing after Week 2. By Week 3, the trends were becoming harder to ignore. Now, we’re starting to see which teams have real problems.
A team can only keep making the same mistakes for so long before something needs to change.
This week, we’re adding another level to the NFL Panic Meter. With the Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and Tennessee Titans all at 0-5, it’s time to ask whether some teams should shift their focus to next season.
We’re also switching things up by moving beyond several teams that have appeared in recent editions and examining new concerns emerging around the league.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the teams giving us the most reason to panic after Week 5.
7/7 — Fire sale. Time to gather draft capital.
6/7 — Full-blown panic. Someone needs to answer some questions.
5/7 — Sound the alarms.
4/7 — Serious concerns.
3/7 — Keep an eye on it.
2/7 — Not great, but relax.
1/7 — Probably nothing to worry about.
NFL Panic Meter – Week 5
Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans — Panic Meter: 7/7
Sometimes, you have to admit that things aren’t working.
That’s where the Chargers, Dolphins, and Titans find themselves after five weeks. All three teams are 0-5, and it’s getting harder to make a convincing argument for any of them to turn their seasons around.
The season isn’t technically over, but these teams have a lot of work to do. All three have scored fewer than 85 points while carrying a point differential of -45 or worse. That’s a rough start for any franchise, especially when you consider how different their expectations were heading into the year.
Miami’s struggles aren’t particularly surprising. The Dolphins had plenty of questions before the season started, and those concerns haven’t gone away. At this point, the front office needs to start thinking about what this roster should look like moving forward.
Tennessee is a different story. There were reasons to be optimistic about the Titans heading into the season, but five games later, they’re still looking for their first win. Whatever progress the team hoped to make hasn’t shown up on the field.
Then there’s Los Angeles.
The Chargers might be the biggest disappointment of the three. Few expected them to be sitting at 0-5, and their season has quickly gone off the rails. With that kind of start, the front office has to consider whether it’s worth continuing to chase a turnaround or whether it’s time to look ahead.
That brings us to the trade deadline.
At 0-5, these teams need to start thinking about the bigger picture. That doesn’t mean putting everyone on the trade block, but if a veteran can bring back a valuable draft pick and isn’t part of the long-term plans, the front office should at least listen.
There’s a difference between giving up on a season and making a smart decision for the future. The Chargers, Dolphins, and Titans can’t afford to approach the deadline as if one winning streak will suddenly put them back in contention.
All three franchises have major decisions ahead. Rather than spending the rest of the year chasing a turnaround that might never come, it may be time to move a few pieces and focus on next season.
Panic Meter: 7/7
Arizona Cardinals — Panic Meter: 6/7
I don’t know how much worse things can get for the Arizona Cardinals right now.
After allowing more than 30 points in another loss, Arizona has now given up at least 30 points in four consecutive games. The defense is sitting at the bottom of the league in points allowed per game, and there hasn’t been much reason to believe things will improve anytime soon.
The problems don’t stop there.
Questions are growing about whether Jacoby Brissett should remain the starting quarterback, with rookie Carson Beck beginning to enter the conversation. If Arizona isn’t getting the results it wants, giving the rookie a chance could be worth considering.
Then there’s Jeremiyah Love.
The third overall pick was supposed to play a major role in the offense, but his usage has already become a talking point. When a team invests that much in a player, you’d expect him to have a meaningful role. If Love isn’t getting enough opportunities, the coaching staff needs to explain why.
And just when things couldn’t get much more interesting, the Cardinals traded receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
The former fourth overall pick hasn’t lived up to expectations, and his departure raises even more questions about where this franchise is headed. Moving on from Harrison might make sense if Arizona believes a fresh start is best for everyone involved, but trading a player selected that high so early in his career is another sign of how quickly things have gone wrong.
Between the quarterback uncertainty, questions about Love’s role, and a defense that continues to give up points, Arizona has problems on both sides of the ball.
The front office doesn’t necessarily need to blow everything up tomorrow, but it does need to figure out which players are worth building around. The Harrison trade adds another layer to that decision, especially if the team is preparing for a longer rebuild than originally expected.
Arizona isn’t quite at the point where everything needs to be torn down, but the next few weeks could tell us a lot about the direction of this franchise.
Panic Meter: 6/7
Washington Commanders — Panic Meter: 4/7
The Washington Commanders have developed a frustrating habit over the last few weeks. They can look competitive for much of a game, only to fall apart when it matters most.
Since Week 2, Washington has allowed 20, 21, 20, and 24 points in the second half of games. That’s a concerning trend for a defense that keeps giving opposing offenses opportunities to take control late.
It’s one thing to struggle against a good offense. It’s another to keep finding yourself in close games and failing to finish them.
The defense deserves plenty of criticism, but the offense hasn’t done enough to help, either.
Washington had an opportunity to manage the clock in overtime and put itself in a position to win, but it failed to take advantage. When you’re struggling to close out games, missed opportunities like that become even more costly.
There are also growing concerns about the coaching staff. The head coach is facing pressure to turn things around, and signs of frustration inside the locker room aren’t going to make the situation any easier.
That’s a difficult position for Washington to be in just five weeks into the season. The team still has time to correct its mistakes, but the margin for error is getting smaller with every loss.
The Commanders need to find a way to get stops in the second half and make better use of their opportunities to close out games. Until those problems improve, they’re going to keep putting themselves in difficult positions.
Washington doesn’t belong in the same category as the three winless teams just yet. However, if these late-game struggles continue, this rating could climb quickly.
Panic Meter: 4/7
Philadelphia Eagles — Panic Meter: 3/7
The Philadelphia Eagles get a slight break on this week’s Panic Meter.
After a frustrating stretch, the offense showed some improvement in Week 5, while the defense delivered a much stronger performance. That’s encouraging, especially considering how depleted the offense has been.
Still, this is Philadelphia. The expectations are higher here, and one improved performance isn’t going to make every concern disappear.
The offensive line is a particular problem. Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson has retired, while center Cam Jurgens was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. Losing two important pieces up front is a major concern for an offense that was already struggling to find consistency.
Philadelphia relies heavily on its offensive line to establish the running game and give its quarterback time to work through progressions. If the protection continues to struggle, the entire offense could have a difficult time finding its rhythm.
The next few weeks should give us a better idea of how much these changes will affect the team. Philadelphia’s upcoming schedule eases up a little, giving the offense an opportunity to build momentum. Getting Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith back should also help, assuming both can return to form.
There are still plenty of reasons to believe the Eagles can turn things around. The improved Week 5 performance was a step in the right direction, and there’s enough talent on the roster to make a run if the offense starts clicking.
The offensive line remains the biggest concern, though, and that isn’t something the team can fix overnight. Philadelphia needs to show that it can put together consistent performances rather than relying on one good week to ease the pressure.
For now, the panic level is coming down slightly. But with expectations this high, the Eagles don’t have much room for another extended slump.
Panic Meter: 3/7
The Last Word
Five weeks into the season, it’s becoming harder to ignore the problems facing some of these teams.
The Chargers, Dolphins, and Titans are all 0-5 and may need to start thinking about next season. Arizona isn’t far behind, especially with its defensive struggles and the questions surrounding its roster.
Washington still has time to turn things around, but it needs to find a way to close out games. Philadelphia, meanwhile, has an opportunity to build on its improved Week 5 performance.
There’s still plenty of football left to play, but these teams can’t afford to keep making the same mistakes. The next few weeks should tell us a lot about which ones can turn things around and which fanbases have even more reason to panic.
Main Image: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
