Fansided

5 NFL teams that must win in Week 13

By Mike Phillips

FOXBOROUGH, MA - NOVEMBER 24: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott throws on the run against the New England Patriots during the third quarter. The Patriots won 13-9. The New England Patriots host the Dallas Cowboys for a Sunday afternoon football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on Nov. 24, 2019. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - NOVEMBER 24: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott throws on the run against the New England Patriots during the third quarter. The Patriots won 13-9. The New England Patriots host the Dallas Cowboys for a Sunday afternoon football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on Nov. 24, 2019. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 24: Oakland Raiders quarterback Mike Glennon (7) fumbles the snap during the National Football League game between the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders on November 24, 2019 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 24: Oakland Raiders quarterback Mike Glennon (7) fumbles the snap during the National Football League game between the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders on November 24, 2019 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Oakland Raiders

No team took a steeper stumble from week-to-week than the Oakland Raiders. Entering MetLife Stadium on Sunday, all the Raiders had to do was beat the 3-7 Jets to maintain their grip on the AFC’s second wild card spot and set up a first-place showdown in Kansas City this week.

The Raiders ended up leaving with one of the worst losses of the season, getting buried by the Jets early in a 34-3 rout. The Jets took Josh Jacobs out of the game, forcing Derek Carr to put the game in his hands, and that has not been a recipe for success for Oakland this year.

Raiders’ coach Jon Gruden was extremely frustrated with the team’s performance, pulling key starters in the third quarter to save them for the Chiefs’ game. The loss also dropped the Raiders out of a playoff position, leaving them staring up at the Pittsburgh Steelers for the final wild card spot in the AFC.

This puts Oakland in a very dangerous spot as they head to Arrowhead Stadium to take on a well-rested Kansas City team coming off its bye. The Chiefs went to Oakland and beat the Raiders earlier in the year, meaning a loss here would essentially shut them out of the AFC West race.

That is the definition of a must-win game, and the Raiders need to get it in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. A loss wouldn’t necessarily kill the Raiders in the weak AFC, but their margin of error would be completely gone with another loss.

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