5 NFL teams that must win in Week 6

The calendar has turned to October, and incredibly, we’re already almost halfway to Halloween. With the days ripping away, the NFL is beginning to take shape for the 2018 season. At this juncture, we begin to learn who is going to make a serious move toward postseason contention, and which teams should start browsing mock drafts.

This week, there are 15 games with only the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions enjoying some time off on their respective byes. Here are the five squads that desperately need to find a victory come Sunday.

5. Green Bay Packers

This thing goes completely off the rails of the Packers can’t handle the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night. Green Bay has been up and down throughout the first months. It is sitting at 2-2-1, tied for second place in the NFC North alongside the Minnesota Vikings. Green Bay has to find a way to light up the depleted 49ers or face the prospect of brutal times ahead.

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4. Los Angeles Chargers

If the Chargers are going to catch the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West, they can’t afford to lose to the Cleveland Browns. Make no mistake, it’s no longer easy to go to Cleveland and win. However, the Browns aren’t to the level of the Chargers, making this a must-win for the road team. Kansas City is playing on the road against the New England Patriots, giving the Chiefs one of the few games they’ll be underdogs in. Los Angeles can’t blow this potential opportunity.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers 

The Steelers are playing against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium, and Pittsburgh has to have it. Cincinnati is 4-1, sitting second in the AFC standings behind the Chiefs. As well as that, they’re first in the AFC North, a full 1.5 games ahead of the Steelers. Pittsburgh can all but pull into a tie with a win here, but a loss puts it in a significant hole.

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2. Miami Dolphins

If the Dolphins are going to get this thing turned around, it starts right now. The Chicago Bears are coming to town with hopes of getting to 4-1 after their bye week, something Miami can’t allow to happen. The Dolphins began the year 3-0 before getting blown out at Gillette Stadium against the Patriots before going to Cincinnati, building a 17-0 lead in the second half, and then surrendering 27 unanswered points. It’s now or never on South Beach.

1. Atlanta Falcons

It might be too late for the Falcons, but this is undoubtedly a last-gasp scenario. The Falcons have to find a way to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are coming off their bye week with Jameis Winston starting for the first time in 2018. If Atlanta is going to rally from a 1-4 start, this is a must-win.