5 NFL teams that must win in Week 16

Playoff positioning is on the line in Week 16, and these five teams have to find a way to come out on top if they want to keep or improve their grip on a postseason spot.

This must-win column has gone in a lot of directions this season, but with only two weeks left in the regular season its time to cut to the nitty-gritty. There is no longer time for teams that have to win to avoid embarrassing losses or beat a rival.

Over the next two weeks in this space, the five must-win teams will be tied directly to playoff positioning. Whether it is trying to clinch a division title or simply winning to keep their hopes alive, these five squads are going to have a direct impact on the playoff race.

Let’s get started with the defending champions, who find themselves in need of a victory to take care of an important bit of business.

5. New England Patriots

The order of operations for New England has been pretty straightforward in the past: win the AFC East, get a first-round bye, and get home field throughout the playoffs. That last line probably won’t happen as a result of New England’s head-to-head loss to the Ravens, but they haven’t taken care of the first two items yet either.

The AFC East will be New England’s with one win in its final two games, but they need this win to not only get the division but avoid having to play in the Wild Card round for the first time since 2009. The Patriots lost in that round that year, and they are very vulnerable to an upset, so having to win two games to return to the Super Bowl instead of three is a massive difference-maker for them.