NFL Predictions Week 5: Pittsburgh Steelers and 3 Season-Saving Winning Teams

The phrase “must-win game” is thrown around a lot in our culture. You’ll hear someone say, “Week 1 is a must-win game for us” when in reality it isn’t. Your season will not be over if your team happens to lose in the first game of the season.  

We are now past the opening month of the NFL season and teams are starting to separate themselves from their oppositions. These games are starting to be more and more important for teams that have gotten off to slow starts after four weeks. 

Another loss for these three teams will make it even harder for them to not only get back into contention for their division but the playoffs in general.  

Now if your buddy happens to say to you, “Dude we have to win this game this week or else our season is over!” they’re making more sense. Your team is not in must-win crisis mode yet, but a loss will put you one step closer to the edge. 

Pittsburgh Steelers 

The defending AFC champions have started this season slowly by their standards. Winning two games at home, where they play this week against the Tennessee Titans, they have a great chance to save off the upset this week.  

If this game was on the road, where the Steelers have lost twice this year, the feeling would be different among the Steeler Nation.  

The Nation can expect a Steelers team that will go heavy on the run, as both quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and running back Rashard Mendenhall are dealing with injuries.  

The only way the Steelers lose the game on Sunday is if Titans running back Chris Johnson breaks out of his season-long slump.

New York Jets 

The Jets come into Foxboro, Mass. for the first time since their playoff upset from last year. The Patriots have had all offseason to stew over that loss and the celebration the New York players had after the game.  

Even with all of the extra motivation, the Jets still know how to beat Tom Brady and the Pats—by putting an enormous amount of pressure on Brady. 

The Jets will be blitzing on the Pats from start to finish of Sunday’s game which will result in a season-saving win for New York. 

Chicago Bears 

Make no mistake, the Lions are playing some great football right now. No matter what the deficit is they have found a way to claw their way back into the game to win it.  

But, these Chicago Bears are now starting to shy away from letting quarterback Jay Cutler decide their games. Instead, they are focusing on the running game, led by Matt Forte. 

Bears and fantasy football owners can expect to see the ball go to Forte somewhere in the range of 20-30 times on Monday night for a Bears win. 

Twitter: @tjmcaloon