NFL Week 16: 5 teams that must win

With just two weeks left in the NFL regular season, the playoffs are right around the corner. Here are five teams that must come away with a win in Week 16.

Playoff clinching scenarios are everywhere this week. There’s a possibility 11 teams could clinch a playoff berth in Week 16, including a number of division titles. If you thought the playoff picture was confusing up to this point, it only gets worse the next two weeks.

With the NFL regular season coming to a close sooner than later, here are five teams that must win this week.

5. Los Angeles Chargers

Despite a 30-13 loss to the Chiefs last Saturday night, the Chargers are still in the playoff picture at 7-7. The road is not a lot tougher than before but still possible by all means. The Chargers have two viable options to make the playoffs. They have to win the AFC West or get help in the wild-card picture. Either way, it all starts with a game this Sunday against the Jets the Chargers can’t lose.

Since the loss to the Chiefs, the Chargers also have suffered key injuries. Tight end Hunter Henry suffered a lacerated kidney and was placed on injured reserve while rookie running back Austin Ekeler broke his hand. Both will be huge losses for the offense and Philip Rivers must find other ways to spread out the ball. Luckily, they still have two dangerous weapons in Keenan Allen and Melvin Gordon. Their production only increases the next two games.

The Jets are a sneaky team. Without Josh McCown, they’re pretty much incompetent on offense but are dangerous on the other side of the ball. They gave the Saints a run for their money and came close to pulling off the upset. The Chargers have to make sure they don’t fall in the same boat, especially on the road.

A win keeps the Chargers’ playoff hopes alive and they’re hoping for a Chiefs to the Dolphins this weekend.