NFL Week 2: 5 teams that must win

The NFL season is funny. It starts, you blink, and then it’s over. Unlike baseball, you can’t afford to have a bad month. You’re finished by the time you dig yourself out from under the avalanche.

Already, 15 teams are sitting at 0-1, and while some are more concerning than others, you better believe that every winless team has a major sense of urgency heading into Week 2. Here are the five teams who need to win more than the others:

5. New York Giants

The Giants looked awful in their season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, scoring a measly touchdown in a 19-3 beating. New York was without wide receiver Odell Beckham, who is expected to return for its Week 2 game on Monday night against the Detroit Lions. If the Giants an’t figure out how to block, this could be a very long season. Let’s see if Ben McAdoo and Co. can figure something out.

4. Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers almost pulled off a stirring victory in Week 1, falling on Monday night to the Denver Broncos on a potential game-tying field goal in the final seconds. Now, the Chargers come hoe to take on the Miami Dolphins in their new digs, the StubHub Center. In the AFC West, falling to 0-2 would be a death blow, especially considering Kansas City is visiting Los Angeles in Week 3.

3. Tennessee Titans

After losing at home to the Oakland Raiders, the Titans have to get in the win column. On the plus side, Tennessee plays in the league’s worst division and could likely win the South with eight victories. On the negative side, the Titans have looked awful throughout both the preseason and season opener. Many believed the Titans would be contenders this year, and if that is to be the case, you have to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars.

2. Washington Redskins

Washington is traveling to Los Angeles this week to take on Sean McVay and the Rams. McVay, who was the Redskins’ offensive coordinator before taking the head job in L.A., has his new squad looking good. Meanwhile, Washington was beaten soundly at home by the Philadelphia Eagles, making this week imperative in the tough NFC East.

1. Houston Texans

This thing feels like it’s on the verge of falling apart already. An embarrassing 29-7 loss at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars has Houston reeling, with Deshaun Watson quickly having unseated Tom Savage as the starting quarterback. This Thursday, Houston goes on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals, another 0-1 team. The Texans are playing without a host of important players including Brian Cushing and Duane Brown, but they must find a way.

The next three games? At New England before coming home to play the Titans and Chiefs.