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NFL Week 14: 5 teams that must win

By Joe Schiller

CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 19: Quarterback Matthew Stafford No. 9 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 19, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 19: Quarterback Matthew Stafford No. 9 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 19, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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As the season winds down, here are five NFL teams that must come away with a win in Week 14.

Enjoy it while you can, there are only four weeks left of the NFL regular season. It’s been one to remember, for good and bad. We’ve seen clear favorites emerge this season but for the most part, it’s been hard to tell what is going to happen on a weekly basis. Soon enough, the playoff picture will be set and 12 NFL teams will be fighting for a coveted Super Bowl title.

Heading to the postseason, here are five teams that must win in Week 14. If not, they’re in trouble heading down the final stretch of the season.

5. Dallas Cowboys

With a 38-14 win over the Washington Redskins last Thursday night, the Dallas Cowboys are still in the push for a sought-after wild-card spot in the NFC. Week 14 offers a must-win game against the rival New York Giants. If there’s any time that the Cowboys need to come away with a win this season, now is the time.

Looking at their schedule, the Cowboys finish the season against the Raiders, Seahawks, and Eagles. It’s not a promising stretch by any means and the Cowboys could easily go 0-3 to finish out the year. We’ve seen this team go through a low-point through the middle of the season but the talent is still there. The problem is one of those talents is currently suspended but he’s back much sooner than most realize.

If they can beat the Giants and Raiders in the next two weeks, that would put them at 8-6 with running back Ezekiel Elliott returning Week 16 against the Seahawks. I’m not saying the Cowboys will be playoff contenders but getting back a top-three running back certainly helps. After all, the Cowboys were a 13-3 team with Elliott for 16-games last season.

All the Cowboys need to do is string together a couple of wins and a wild-card spot could be theirs.