Only four weeks remain in the 2016 regular season, making it extremely important for NFL teams on the bubble to make a strong push for the playoffs. Seasons are often won and lost during these vital games in December.
Here are five teams facing must-win games in Week 14:
Green Bay Packers
Two straight wins has set up what looks to be a season-defining game for the Packers. With a win over the Seahawks in Green Bay, a postseason berth would suddenly seem possible for the Packers. But if the team suffers a defeat on Sunday, the season might as well be over for Mike McCarthy’s team.
A Packers’ loss and a Detroit Lions’ win over the (3-9) Chicago Bears would drop Green Bay to three games back in the NFC North with three games to play. And if the Packers can’t beat the Seahawks at Lambeau Field in December, it wouldn’t project well for their performance in the playoffs anyway. Sunday should provide some concrete answers regarding the Packers’ 2016 campaign.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts’ rematch with the Houston Texans looks like the most important game in the AFC South this season. For Indianapolis, the two potential outcomes on Sunday are pretty clear.
If they beat the Texans, the Colts will even the season series with Houston and jump into first place in the division. Should they lose, Houston would sweep Indianapolis and cement the head-to-head advantage over its AFC South foe—effectively giving Houston a two-game lead in the division with three games to play.
Even receiver T.Y. Hilton is fully aware of how important Sunday’s game is to the Colts’ season, according to via Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star.“A Game 7,” he called it. “Must win.” Hilton’s words speak volumes.
Arizona Cardinals
Don’t sleep on the Cardinals, who—even at 5-6-1—still have a shot at making the playoffs. Arizona needs to win out to have a legitimate shot at the postseason, but there’s enough talent on Bruce Arians’ team for a run at a wild-card berth.
It won’t be easy, though, as every game from here on out is a must-win for the Cardinals. Arizona plays the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams over the final four games, with only one matchup—next Sunday against the Saints—coming at home.
Sunday takes Arizona across the country to Miami, where the Dolphins are still licking their wounds after the 38-6 beat down delivered by the Baltimore Ravens last week. Only a win will keep the Cardinals’ season alive, and they need to take care of business if they want to do just that.
Minnesota Vikings
Two short months ago, the Vikings were 5-0 and flying high as the NFL’s last remaining undefeated team. Now, Minnesota desperately needs a win over the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars to stay alive in the NFC North race.
The Vikings have lost six of their last seven games, including four straight away from home. Week 14 brings Minnesota to Jacksonville to play a team that hasn’t won a game—home or away—since the middle of October.
A loss in Jacksonville could mathematically eliminate the Vikings from the division race. If the Jaguars and Lions both win on Sunday, Minnesota would be three games back of Detroit in the NFC North—with three games to play and the Lions holding the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Buffalo Bills
Bills head coach Rex Ryan knows the only path to the postseason for Buffalo has to start with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
“We have to win this game to have any hopes of getting into the playoffs,” Ryan said, via Mike Rodak of ESPN.
Ryan is right. With a 6-6 record, the Bills are two games back of the (8-4) Denver Broncos and in 10th place in the AFC standings. Given how competitive the conference has been this season, it doesn’t look like any record short of 10-6 will be good enough for an AFC team (aside from the AFC South winner) to make the playoffs.
The Bills will likely have to win four straight games to get a postseason berth. The win streak has to start on Sunday in Orchard Park, where the Bills went 3-0 in December and January last year.
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