As the NFL approaches the midway point of the 2016 season, the pressure to stay alive is officially starting to heat up for several teams.
Here are five clubs facing must-win games in Week 8.
New Orleans Saints
Storylines for the Saints this week include the return of Jimmy Graham to New Orleans, and New Orleans’ second-ranked scoring offense facing Seattle’s No. 1-ranked scoring defense. But there’s a more important narrative at play: Sean Payton’s team needs a win in the worst way.
The Saints have started 2-4 for the third consecutive season. In each of the last two years, New Orleans chained together a few wins to temporarily get its season back on track. A home victory over the Seahawks might not save the Saints’ 2016 season, but it would certainly help keep it alive. A loss could be the beginning of the end for a team that hasn’t been to the postseason since 2013.
New York Jets
The 2-5 Jets have dug themselves a deep hole after seven weeks. But it’s still tough to completely rule out New York, especially with a visit from the Cleveland Browns up next on Sunday. In fact, the Jets’ next three games—against the Browns, Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams—all seem winnable. Three more wins would even New York’s record at 5-5 before a showdown with the New England Patriots in Week 12.
Looking that far into the future is dangerous, but the Jets have a real opportunity to fight their way back to relevancy during the next three games. It must start Sunday with a win over the 0-7 Browns.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Two straight road wins have revived Tampa Bay’s season, but the Buccaneers still lack a win at home (0-2) in 2016. A third opportunity to win at Raymond James Stadium comes on Sunday, when the travel-tested Oakland Raiders arrive in Florida.
Teams that can’t win at home don’t generally have successful seasons. The Raiders might be 4-0 on the road this year, but the Buccaneers are about to begin a crucial three-game home stand. This week would be the perfect time for Tampa Bay to collect a big win at home over one of the NFL’s up and coming franchises.
Carolina Panthers
There’s no more room for error in Carolina, where the Panthers have exited the bye week with an incredible 1-5 record. Another loss—especially this early—could all but end the 2016 season for the defending NFC champions.
The Arizona Cardinals are headed to Charlotte on Sunday for a NFC title game rematch, so avoiding a 1-6 record won’t be easy. While the Panthers tortured Carson Palmer last January, the Cardinals veteran quarterback might find life to be a little easier against a defense giving up almost 30 points per game in 2016. If Palmer goes off and the Panthers fall to 1-6, Carolina can probably forget about a return to the postseason.
San Diego Chargers
The Chargers are riding high after season-saving wins over the Broncos and Falcons in consecutive weeks, but the victories have to keep coming. While another chance to beat Denver means another chance to gain ground in the AFC West, the divisional matchup also turns up the potential consequences for a loss.
A home defeat to the Broncos on Sunday would send San Diego to 3-5, while improving Denver to 6-2. The Raiders are also entering Week 8 at 5-2, making a win even more imperative for the Chargers. Mike McCoy’s club has the talent to keep rolling, but there will be weekly pressure to win after San Diego’s disappointing 1-4 start.
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