5 NFL teams that must win in Week 13

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers calls out offensive signals against the Oakland Raiders during the first half of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 11, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 25: Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers scores a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

4. Carolina Panthers

A few weeks back the Panthers looked like a safe pick to make a playoff push, but after three consecutive losses, they are reeling. Last week the Panthers suffered a heart-breaking loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the latest slip up in their disastrous run of games.

This week the Panthers are lucky enough to play a team that is more snake-bitten than them, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their ongoing quarterback carousel and lack of defense make them easy to exploit, but with the Panthers recent luck, Tampa will look like a brand new team on Sunday.

Christian McCaffrey is doing literally everything he can to carry the Panthers to victory, but it seems as though nobody else is. The defense, who was once highly touted, has been giving up big plays and hasn’t been able to get themselves off the field.

Obviously, when the offense is predicated on the running game, it is more successful when the team is leading and can get stops on defense. Because they have been leaking points, Cam Newton has had to throw the ball downfield, something he doesn’t excel at.

A win this week would help the Panthers get back on track in a very congested NFC playoff picture.