Fansided

5 NFL teams that must win in Week 2

By Mike Phillips

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 08: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sideline during the game between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 08: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sideline during the game between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 09: J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans gives the team a pep talk before a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on September 09, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 09: J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans gives the team a pep talk before a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on September 09, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

3. Houston Texans

As we mentioned earlier, the Houston Texans survived an 0-2 start a year ago to make the playoffs. The Texans even ended up winning the AFC South, but that was after an 0-3 start and required a nine-game winning streak to get back in front in the division.

Even though the Texans have that experience on their side, it would be much easier to simply avoid the 0-2 start and not test their luck again. The Texans very nearly won in Week 1, with Deshaun Watson leading a late touchdown drive to grab the lead over the New Orleans Saints only to fall when Wil Lutz hit a 58-yard field goal at the gun.

The good news for Houston is that they caught a huge break with their Week 2 opponent, the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars are not only coming off a loss themselves against Kansas City, but they are also down their starting quarterback after Nick Foles broke his clavicle in the defeat.

Foles is out indefinitely, meaning rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew (and his fabulous mustache) are heading into Houston on Sunday to try and pick up a must needed win. Minshew performed decently well in a tough spot in Week 1, but going on the road in the NFL as a rookie quarterback is an entirely different beast.

The Texans’ next four games are very difficult after Jacksonville, with home dates against Atlanta and Carolina sandwiched between road trips to Los Angeles and Kansas City. Getting a win here against a Jaguars’ squad starting a rookie backup quarterback is a necessity for the Texans.