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5 NFL teams that must win in Week 4

By Mike Phillips

LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 23: Redskins QB Case Keenum (8) throws a pass during the Chicago Bears vs. Washington Redskins Monday Night Football game September 23, 2019 at FedEx Field in Landover, MD. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 23: Redskins QB Case Keenum (8) throws a pass during the Chicago Bears vs. Washington Redskins Monday Night Football game September 23, 2019 at FedEx Field in Landover, MD. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CARSON, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Keenan Allen #13 of the Los Angeles Chargers catches a pass while defended by Johnathan Joseph #24 of the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter at Dignity Health Sports Park on September 22, 2019 in Carson, California. The Texans defeated the Chargers 27-20. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
CARSON, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Keenan Allen #13 of the Los Angeles Chargers catches a pass while defended by Johnathan Joseph #24 of the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter at Dignity Health Sports Park on September 22, 2019 in Carson, California. The Texans defeated the Chargers 27-20. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

4. Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers won 12 games a year ago and tied the Kansas City Chiefs atop the AFC West, but due to tiebreakers they ended up going on the road in the playoffs. Things haven’t gone as well for the Chargers to start this season, dropping two straight games after surviving an overtime scare from the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1.

If the Colts had completed their big comeback, the Chargers would be 0-3 right now, and they have not played well at all. The offense has managed to move the ball without Melvin Gordon, who is still holding out, but Los Angeles has killed themselves with turnovers at critical junctures of the game.

The Chargers are also dealing with significant injuries as Russell Okung and Derwin James are still sidelined, but the scheduling gods have delivered a much needed gift to them this week. While Los Angeles does hit the road, the Chargers take on the NFL’s worst team, the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins have been completely non-competitive for most of the season, getting outscored 133-16 over their first three games, but they did show signs of life in Dallas in Week 3. Josh Rosen provided a spark for the offense, keeping the Dolphins within a 10-6 margin late in the second quarter, and the Dolphins were driving for the lead before a fumble swung the momentum of the game.

The Chargers should win this football game, but they cannot afford to do what Dallas did and take the Dolphins lightly for a half. Los Angeles can’t look a gift horse in the mouth, making it important to take a win against the Dolphins and get back to .500.