5 NFL teams that must win in Week 4

2. Arizona Cardinals

The Bruce Arians era in Arizona could be coming to an end. After missing the playoffs last season, the Cardinals are off to a frustrating 1-2 start on the season. Sunday’s game against the 49ers is absolutely a must-win for the Cardinals. With the way they’re playing, there aren’t many other guaranteed wins. And even at that point, the 49ers aren’t even a walk in the park, they’re just the best opportunity the Cardinals have to pick up a win right now.

Through three games, I’m not ready to write this team off. The loss of David Johnson is devastating, but the Cardinals are still a talented team. They’ve got a veteran quarterback, reliable receivers and a defense that’s more than capable of being a top-15 unit in the league. There are still 13 games left and plenty of football left to play. Plus, the NFC West doesn’t seem to be that strong this season. There have been plenty of 1-2 teams that have turned things around to make the playoffs, it’s not that far-fetched of a thing to do.

But if the Cardinals want any chance at a playoff run, they’ve got to get better in some areas, specifically the offensive line. That unit allowed six sacks on Monday Night Football against the Cowboys and had Carson Palmer sitting very uneasy in the pocket. With the run game in question, the quarterback has to be protected.

A win against the 49ers the Cardinals at 2-2 and right back into the conversation in the NFC West.