5 NFL TEAMS THAT MUST WIN IN WEEK 15

The playoff picture is starting to come into focus with several teams clinching their spot. Which five teams need a win the most this weekend?

The Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, and the New Orleans Saints have all booked their ticket to the playoffs, who will be the next to join them? Several more teams can secure their spot this weekend.

Last week, the five teams listed in this post went undefeated. Perhaps I have found the magic touch; you’re welcome Bears, Chiefs, Cowboys, Chargers, and Saints. In all seriousness, those may have been the easiest picks ever, but I digress.

Let’s kick this week’s picks off with an obvious one.

5. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

After last week’s utter meltdown, the Patriots have still yet to clinch their playoff spot. There’s a chance that they actually don’t even win the division, but the odds of that happening are slim to none. The Dolphins are still within striking range, but the Patriots could clinch the division this weekend with a win and a Dolphins loss. They can simply clinch a playoff berth with a win and a Titans loss or tie.

The Patriots travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers, who are coming off of a brutal loss to the lowly Oakland Raiders. Needless to say, they will be fired up and ready to fight. By no means will this be an easy game for the Patriots.

With a win not only do the Patriots get back to their winning ways, but they do their part in clinching the division. With the Dolphins playing the Vikings, anything can happen and the Patriots cannot control that. All they can do is win their game, and that is a must for them.

4. HOUSTON TEXANS

The trend of this week is teams that have a chance to clinch their respective division title. Houston can clinch the AFC South with a win and some help. In addition to beating the New York Jets, the Texans need the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans to lose or tie. With the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants as the opponents to those teams respectively, two losses seem unlikely.

Regardless, the Texans have a chance to go on the road and make some noise. The Jets are 4-9, and minus the comeback win last week, have been an absolute train wreck recently. Coming off the loss to the Colts, the Texans need a big win, and this is a perfect opportunity.

There is a lot on the line here. A win, while not enough by itself, puts the Texans a step closer to a playoff spot. In addition, it serves as a huge boost of confidence and morale for the team after a hard-fought loss. The Jets are by no means intimidating, and the Texans have a great opportunity to build some momentum heading into the final two games of the season.

Deshaun Watson has a penchant for showing up when his team needs him the most, and this week is a perfect example of that. Will Watson be able to rally his teammates and lead them to a victory in the Big Apple?

3. DALLAS COWBOYS

One of the most surprising teams in the second half of the season has been the Cowboys. Since the acquisition of Amari Cooper, which was deemed highway robbery, the Cowboys are 5-1 and have surged to the top of the NFC East. Pinning it all on Cooper may be a bit of a stretch, but it is far from a coincidence.

Quarterback Dak Prescott has played better, the offense is less one-dimensional, and quite frankly, the whole team has a new confidence. It seems as though Cooper has brought an aura of swagger that has infected the team. Compared to the first half of the season, this team is night and day.

After beating the Philadelphia Eagles last week, the Cowboys are on the verge of earning a playoff berth. With a win, the Cowboys win the division outright, but they can also seal their title if the Eagles and Washington Redskins lose. Obviously, it would feel better to win and earn the division title, but there is a high chance the Eagles and Redskins both lose this weekend.

The Cowboys travel to Indianapolis to play the Colts in what will undoubtedly be a close, hard-fought game. Andrew Luck and company will give the stout Cowboys defense a run for their money. The Colts are fighting for their playoff lives, so they have a ton of incentive to play hard. For the Cowboys, win and the division is all theirs.

2. CHICAGO BEARS

Like the Cowboys, the Bears have surprised many people this season and are on the brink of winning the NFC North over the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. Coming into the year, the Bears were 100-1 favorites to win the Super Bowl, as of last week, they are now 20-1. That is a drastic improvement for a team that did not even look like it would make playoffs heading into the season.

Obviously, a huge part of the Bear’s success is their defense, but the offense has more than carried its weight. Matt Nagy deserves a ton of credit for what he has done with this team and should be considered for coach of the year honors.

The Bears can clinch the division title and a playoff berth with a win over the Packers. We all remember what happened the last time these two met, but things are much different now than they were then. With the division on the line, in front of the home fans, the Bears have to get the job done.

After their dismantling of the Rams last week, the Bears seem like the real deal and could challenge for a Super Bowl. It all begins this week by earning their spot in the playoffs. Look for the Bears defense to stifle the Packers and their struggling offense, although Aaron Rodgers should never be underestimated.

1. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Prior to the season kicking off the Seahawks were one of the favorites to have the number one pick in the upcoming draft. Nearly 15 weeks later, they are 8-5 and one win away from a playoff appearance. So much for the ‘rebuild’ huh?

I guess people underestimated Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson, perhaps only Frank Reich and Andrew Luck have done more with less. The Seahawks were supposed to be rebuilding, but their young players have stepped up and filled the void left behind by some of their predecessors.

Although they have no shot at winning the NFC West as the Los Angeles Rams already clinched that, the fact that the Seahawks may be playing in January is a feat in and of itself. On the road against the San Francisco 49ers, the Seahawks have a great opportunity to pick up a win and book their ticket to the playoffs.

Wilson and company have made a lot of people eat their words, myself included. Their grit and toughness are on display every weekend and that is a huge reason behind their success. The Seahawks fight until the final whistle and things will be no different on Sunday as they try to get back to the playoffs.