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5 NFL teams that must win in Week 5

By Joe Schiller

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 01: Jason Witten #82 of the Dallas Cowboys stands on the field during warmups before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 01: Jason Witten #82 of the Dallas Cowboys stands on the field during warmups before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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We are already a quarter of the way through the 2017 NFL regular season. Games start to matter and these five teams must win in Week 5.

A quarter of the way through the 16-game NFL season puts us here at Week 5. I can finally say that games really start to become meaningful. There are still teams without wins or losses, but plenty of others in the middle of the pack. For many of them, a win in Week 5 is a must. It keeps them afloat in the division and playoff race and while that thought seems far down the road, it’ll come faster than you think.

Here are five teams that have to come away with a win in Week 5.

5. Buffalo Bills

Usually we don’t see 3-1 teams be put in must-win game situations this early in the season, but it’s certainly the case for the Buffalo Bills.

I look at this way for two reasons. First, the Bills are in a division with the New England Patriots. At anytime, the Patriots can get hot and start winning games. Keeping a steady lead atop of the division keeps the pressure on the Patriots. And second, this is a game the Bills should win. They are on the road, but in Cincinnati against a Bengals team that has looked terrible this season. Don’t let a solid Week 4 win against the Browns fool you.

The Bengals have dangerous offensive weapons, but it’s nothing the Bills should be scared of. They’ve already shutdown the likes of Demaryious Thomas, Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman and Cam Newton. This Bills defense is stout in all areas and are playing like Rex Ryan wished they did during his coaching tenure.

This game is more of a can’t-loss and a win keeps the Bills at least a game ahead of the Patriots come Week 6.