NFL Week 8 schedule: 5 teams that must win

5. Houston Texans

The Texans are 4-3, but they could lose touch with the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South if they lose at home this weekend to the Oakland Raiders. Houston is trailing Indianapolis by a half-game but already lost to the Colts. Additionally, Indianapolis plays nobody the next three weeks, with the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins coming up. This needs to go in the win column for Deshaun Watson and Co.

4. Seattle Seahawks

Seattle is 5-2 and playing good football, even if it did slip up on Sunday afternoon against the Baltimore Ravens. So why do the Seahawks find themselves on the list? Two reasons. One, they are playing the Atlanta Falcons, who might be the easiest mark in the league right now. Atlanta is 1-6 and an atrocious defensive team. Additionally, the San Francisco 49ers are 6-0 and the Los Angele Rams are ever-dangerous at 4-3. The NFC West is a great division.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are considered an afterthought in the AFC, but take a look at their schedule. Pittsburgh is 2-4 but welcomes in the winless Dolphins to Heinz Field this week. Afterwards, they get the Colts at home who are good but not great. In the final two months, the Steelers get the Bengals again, the Cleveland Browns twice and the Arizona Cardinals among others. Could Pittsburgh get to nine wins and have a shot to be a wild card team? It won’t be easy, but it’s possible provided they slam the Dolphins this weekend.

2. Cleveland Browns

The Browns are facing a tough task this week. Cleveland is headed to Foxboro for a date with the unbeaten New England Patriots, who would love nothing more than to swat down Baker Mayfield and his ego. Cleveland, though, has to find a way. At 2-4 and coming off its bye, this is a chance to get some good mojo before heading into the final nine games of the year. The AFC North is still up for grabs, but the Ravens can really start pulling away if the Browns don’t get going immediately.

1. Chicago Bears

This is a must-win. An absolute must-win. Should the Bears find a way to lost at home to the injury-riddle, 2-5 Chargers, cancel the season. Chicago needs to keep touch with the NFC elite. With the upcoming schedule (see: the rest of it) being brutal beyond compare, this has to be where Mitchell Trubisky shows up and plays his best game.