NFL Week 3: 5 teams that must win
The third week of the 2016 National Football League season is upon us. Incredibly, the league is more balanced than ever with eight teams sitting 2-0, eight teams at 0-2 and the other 16 at an even 1-1.
So which teams need to win the most this weekend? Here are five in desperate need:
5. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs were picked by some to get to the Super Bowl this season, and they are off to an uneven start. Kansas City is 1-1 due to an incredible comeback in Week 1 over the San Diego Chargers, but the team has mostly looked lackluster. If Andy Reid and Co. are going to start making an early-season push, the time is now.
The New York Jets come into Arrowhead Stadium this week, which won’t be any easy task. After that, however, things get even tougher with trips to Pittsburgh and Oakland. The Chiefs have to get this game on Sunday.
4. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle is very much like Kansas City. People expected the Seahawks to roll into the playoffs and make a serious push toward a title, but things have not gone according to plan. Russell Wilson and the gang is 1-1 but has looked brutal offensively, scoring 15 points over two games against the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams.
The Seahawks have to get going at home this Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. A loss in the great northwest to Blaine Gabbert and Chip Kelly could send things spiraling in the wrong direction.
3. Indianapolis Colts
If the Colts have any dreams of riding the right arm of Andrew Luck into the playoffs, they absolutely must beat the San Diego Chargers at home on Sunday. Luck has been nothing short of terrific early in the season, sans his brutal pick-six to Aqib Talib in their Week 2 loss.
Indianapolis isn’t a very good team, but there are real expectations because of Luck. If the Colts fall to Philip Rivers and the Chargers, the playoffs are a pipe dream.
2. Washington Redskins
The Redskins are in major trouble already, but a loss this weekend would be the proverbial kiss of death. Washington dropped its first two games of the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, both at FedEx Field. This week, Kirk Cousins leads his team into MetLife Stadium versus the New York Giants.
If Washington falls short this Sunday, it is 0-3 with an 0-2 record both at home and in the NFC East. If that’s the case, good night.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville made all kinds of additions through both free agency and the draft this offseason. The Jaguars were supposed to become a power under head coach Gus Bradley, but are looking like the same old team after a pair of losses, including a nasty 38-14 defeat to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.
If Blake Bortles and the defense don’t play better this weekend versus the Baltimore Ravens at home, Bradley should start thinking about what his next job will be.
