NFL Week 7: These 5 teams are desperate for a win

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ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 01: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) under center during an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Atlanta Falcons on October 1, 2017 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. The Buffalo Bills won the game 23-17. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Atlanta Falcons

Losers of two straight games, what’s going on with the Atlanta Falcons? This team looked unstoppable through the first three games of the season but have been nothing like that since. Their last two losses even came at home against two very winnable opponents. It’s not panic time in Atlanta, but they need to pick up a win this week and they face a very familiar opponent.

Sunday night, the Falcons travel to New England to take on the Patriots. It’s a rematch of Super Bowl LI, one the Falcons never want to remember. Holding at 28-3 lead in the third quarter, well you know the rest. It’s been a distant memory, but you know Patriots fans will have plenty of reminders come game time.

The Falcons need a win to get back on track, but also to get the horrible Super Bowl memory out of their heads. It’s hard to tell how prevalent that memory still is, but you have to think players still think about it. The Falcons need to use that memory as fuel for revenge come Sunday night.

A win is possible for the Falcons. They have a high-powered offense and come up against a Patriots defense that’s giving up over 440 yards per game. If there’s any game for the Falcons offense to get back on track, this is the one. Matt Ryan has to play smart and keep his offense out on the field. Limiting Tom Brady’s chances is the key to winning this game.

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With a win the Falcons will sit at 4-2 and the bad Super Bowl choke hopefully becomes a distant memory.