NFL Week 3: These 5 teams need to win

With injuries to deal with and records to improve, NFL Week 3 will be a crucial one for these five teams.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers are welcoming the New York Giants into town. Tampa Bay is coming off an upset win over the Carolina Panthers last Thursday, evening its record at 1-1. Now, after 10 days off, the Bucs are taking on Daniel Jones and the Giants in the quarterback’s regular-season debut. With Drew Brees out six weeks, the NFC South is suddenly wide open. Tampa Bay has a chance to make a move with Jameis Winston in a contract year, and Bruce Arians running the show. This is an opportunity the Buccaneers can’t miss.

4. Los Angeles Chargers

This is a must-win if the Chargers plan on contending in the AFC West. Yes, anything with injuries can happen, but the Kansas City Chiefs are not likely to lose more than three games or so this season. With that in mind, Los Angeles is 1-1 and coming off a hideous defeat to the Detroit Lions. If the Chargers are going to give the Chiefs a run for their proverbial money, they need to beat the Houston Texans at home on Sunday. A loss, combined with Kansas City’s talent, would almost assuredly put them in the wild card bracket.

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3. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo is 2-0, so why are the Bills on this list? Because the schedule gets brutal late, and this week is the home opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. If Buffalo is going to put a charge on for the postseason, it needs to handle bad teams, especially at New Era Field. The Bills have looked improved thus far, but Josh Allen has played uneven under center. If Allen can continue his upward trajectory, Buffalo should win on Sunday and remain unbeaten.

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2. Chicago Bears

The Bears are 1-1, but Mitch Trubisky has looked awful. The only saving grace was Eddy Pineiro drilling a 53-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Denver Broncos last weekend. Now, the Bears travel to Washington D.C. for a date with the Redskins, who are still looking for their first win. If Chicago is serious about a return trip to the playoffs, this is a game Trubisky needs to show up for, and the Bears have to win.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

Simple. The Steelers are 0-2 and Ben Roethlisberger is done for the season with an elbow injury. Pittsburgh comes across the country this Sunday for a date with the undefeated San Francisco 49ers. If the Steelers are going to get back in the AFC playoff picture, it starts with a win. If they fall to 0-3, goodnight.