NFL Week 9 Predictions: Teams Facing Must-Win Games

We're just about at that point in the NFL season where teams decide whether they're going to make one final run at their division titles, or whether they're going to start focusing on the 2013 draft.

That makes Week 9 a critical week. It's right around the midpoint of the season, and especially for those teams that are still on the bubble—hovering somewhere in between second-half contender and flop—this week's games have significant implications.

Here are the teams that absolutely need wins in Week 9.

San Diego Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Thursday, Nov. 1 at 8:20 p.m. ET

The Chargers seem to be one of those teams that always finds a way to get into the playoffs, whether they finish 8-8 or 15-1, so there's no need to panic quite yet about their lackluster 3-4 record.

In a few weeks, though, there could be reason to panic. That's why, right now, the should-wins become must-wins, especially when those should-wins are division games.

For a long time, the Chargers coasted on the fact that the rest of their division was fairly unintimidating, but now that Peyton Manning is under center in Denver, that is no longer the case. The Broncos got off to a rough start this season but are now in first place in the AFC West, while the Chargers—who started off 3-1 but have gone 0-3 since—have fallen into second place.

They have an opportunity to make up some ground with a division game against the Chiefs this week. Given the fact that the Chargers are coming off a demoralizing 7-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns, it must take that opportunity or risk falling too far behind.

Pick: San Diego

Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. ET

It sure didn't take long for the Cardinals to flame out. After starting off the season 4-0 and somehow working their way into the NFL's elite (or so it seemed at the time), Arizona has dropped four consecutive games and is now at risk of falling below .500 for the first time all season.

The losses have been tough because the Cardinals' defense hasn't been all that bad. It's just that the offense hasn't been able to establish any sort of rhythm or consistency. In two of those four losses, Arizona scored only three points. You can't win a game like that.

It's also tough to succeed in a must-win on the road at Lambeau Field, right at the time when the Packers seem to be heating up. The Packers, in fact, seem to be on the opposite trajectory from the Cardinals; they started out slow but have been rolling lately, and they're especially tough at home.

If the Cardinals lose on Sunday, they are in danger of falling into the NFC West cellar. And with tough games against Atlanta, Seattle, Chicago and San Francisco looming in the second half, they can't afford to be there.

Pick: Green Bay

Detroit Lions at Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. ET

Detroit is another team that needs to find a way to establish some kind of consistency if it plans on making a run at the NFC North in the second half.

The first eight games of 2012 have been incredibly frustrating for the Lions. There have been injury woes, they've battled through a couple of tough overtime games and their offense—despite boasting the nation's second-best passing attack—has utterly failed to show up at times.

The good news for the Lions is that even though they're in fourth in the division right now, they're not too far behind Minnesota and Green Bay, and there's a very real possibility that Chicago could struggle to hold onto the top spot. The bad news is, they're already 3-4 and they're running out of time to make up those games.

Of the Lions' final nine games of the season, four of them are against division opponents. Two others are against Houston and Atlanta, two of the best teams in the league. A win over 1-6 Jacksonville this weekend isn't just a should-win, it's a necessity.

Pick: Detroit