NFL Week 13: 5 teams that must win
5. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are getting almost a touchdown in their own building on primetime, which lets you know how the oddsmakers feel about their chances of beating the Pittsburgh Steelers. Still, the Bengals can make some noise in the AFC with a third straight win, getting them to 6-6 with a quarter of the season left. Cincinnati will have a hard time beating Pittsburgh, but if it can find a way, it might lead to a nice run in December for a team once thought to be out of the race.
4. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks aren’t getting any respect. Seattle is 7-4 and taking on the Philadelphia Eagles at home, a team that has not lost a game since Week 2 at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs. Seattle, despite having the reputation, experience and talent, is getting six points at home. This has to be one of the all-time “bet the home team moments,” considering the Eagles are yet to beat a team with a winning record. As for Seattle, if it wants to make the playoffs, this is a quasi must-win.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are going to make the playoffs, but after losing to the Arizona Cardinals a week ago, they need to bounce back and handle business. The AFC South fell back into the hands of the Tennessee Titans last week, albeit via tiebreaker. With the Titans getting the moribund Houston Texans, the Jaguars have to find a way to beat the Indianapolis Colts at home. If they can, the Jaguars will go to 8-4 and feel very good about their chances down the stretch.
2. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have been able to gut out three consecutive wins, but that doesn’t mea the defending NFC champions are safe in the league’s best conference. At 7-4, the Falcons have to take on theMinnesota vikings this weekend, are are favored by a field goal against the 9-2 leaders of the NFC North. A win would put Atlanta in firm position for one of the wild card spots, while a loss would drop it into a gaggle with the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and others.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
This is it for the Chiefs, who went from the league’s best team through five weeks to perhaps its worst over the next seven. At 6-5, Kansas City is desperate to win a game after losing to the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills, scoring a single touchdown over those contests. The Chiefs draw the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium this weekend, and are favored by 3.5 points. Another loss would likely drop Kansas City out of first place in the AFC West, something borderline unimaginable a few weeks ago.
