One Must-Win Game on Each NFL Team's Remaining Schedule

We're in the midst of Week 12 of the 2011 NFL season and while some teams are out of the playoff chase, every squad has at least one must-win game left on its schedule. From the Green Bay Packers to the Indianapolis Colts each team has to win certain games, whether it be to improve its playoff position or just to help earn some pride heading into next season. 

Also, don't discount the motivation that spoiling a rival's chance at the postseason can provide. 

Here is a list of each NFL's team's must-win games for the rest of the season.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers have rolled to an 11-0 record this year and are clearly the NFL's best team. Despite clearly outclassing the rest of the league, Green Bay still has a must-win game on the schedule.

The Packers face the Chicago Bears on Christmas day, and while they almost have the NFC North wrapped up and won't technically need to win that game, it will send a message about how good they really are. 

The Bears should be Green Bay's last test of the season and the fact that it's a rivalry game makes it even more important. 

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers were dealt a dose of reality on Thanksgiving with a tough 16-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. While San Francisco already has the NFC West locked up, the teams still needs to build confidence heading towards the playoffs.

In Week 15 the 49ers welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers to town in what will be a huge opportunity to show they are a legit contender. That matchup definitely qualifies as a must-win game for Jim Harbaugh's team.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens knocked off the San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving to show they are one of the NFL's best teams. But Baltimore has a few games left that need to be taken care of before the team starts celebrating too hard.

The Ravens close the season at Cincinnati in a rematch of Baltimore's 31-24 Week 11 victory. The NFC North title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs could be on the line in that Week 17 matchup, so the Ravens will need to close the season strong with a victory.

Houston Texans

When the Texans lost quarterback Matt Schaub for the season some experts wrote them off as dead in the water. But even without their starting signal-caller the Texans beat Jacksonville 20-13 on Sunday for their fifth-straight win. 

Down the stretch of the season Houston will need to put things together offensively and show that it is a legit contender in the AFC even without Schaub. In Week 14 the Texans travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals and their outstanding defense. If they can come away with a win it will prove that they are for real even with Schaub on the sidelines.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers enter Week 12 with a 7-3 record and have a fairly weak schedule to close out the year. Like the San Francisco 49ers, their Week 15 matchup is incredibly important and could go a long way to proving just how good they are.

Pittsburgh will be in a tight race with Baltimore for the AFC North title and at win at San Francisco in Week 15 will be incredibly important.

New Orleans Saints

The 7-3 New Orleans Saints hold a slim lead over the 7-4 Atlanta Falcons entering their Monday night showdown with Eli Manning and the New York Giants this week. 

The Saints will welcome Atlanta to New Orleans on December 26 in what will almost certainly be a de-facto NFC South title game. Obviously Drew Brees and company have to win that one. 

New England Patriots

The New England Patriots enter Week 12 with a two-game lead in the AFC East and a fairly easy schedule for the remainder of the season. They only game that could cause any sort of problems is their Week 15 trek to Denver to face the Broncos.

Denver only poses a threat because of the unorthodox "Tebow offense" it is currently running. It has proven awkward for some teams to defend. I'll call that the Patriots' must win game since it may be the team's biggest challenge. 

Chicago Bears

Chicago faces its biggest rival, the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Christmas day. Yeah, I think it's fairly easy to call that the team's biggest game of the year.

The Bears are likely to enter that Week 16 matchup battling for a playoff spot, so a win would go a long way to securing one.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals righted the ship in Week 12, eking out a 23-20 win over the Cleveland Browns. Now at 7-4 they can refocus themselves on try to win the AFC North or at least cinching up a playoff spot.

In Week 13 Cincinnati has a chance to avenge its Week 10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. If the Bengals want to re-establish themselves as true contenders in the AFC they must win at Pittsburgh next week. If they can't do that they will fall even further out of the playoff chase.

Atlanta Falcons

Just like the New Orleans Saints, the Falcons must win in Week 16. The two teams will likely be squaring off with the NFC South championship on the line, so whoever escapes with a win will, at the very least, get a home game in the opening round of the playoffs. 

While the Falcons have turned things around and improved to 7-4 on Sunday, they will likely still need to knock of New Orleans late in the season to take command of their division.

Detroit Lions

Thanks to their 27-15 to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving, the Lions are now 7-4 after a very promising 5-0 start. If Matthew Stafford and company want a shot at the playoffs they will need to go on the road and beat Green Bay to end the season. 

In Week 17 the Packers and Lions will do battle on New Year's Day at Lambeau Field. Detroit will have to win that game as a spot in the playoffs will likely be on the line.

Dallas Cowboys

I really don't know what to make of the Dallas Cowboys. They opened the season with a 3-4 record and have since reeled off four straight wins, but haven't looked terribly convincing in doing so. 

At 7-4 the Cowboys hold a slim lead over the New York Giants in the NFC East and the two teams will face each other in Week 14 in Dallas, and then again in Week 17 at MetLife Stadium. 

Both of those games qualify as must-win for Dallas if the team wants to win its division, so both matchups get that designation here.

Oakland Raiders

Entering Week 12 the Raiders hold a one-game lead over the Denver Broncos in the AFC West, and they have several very tough games left on the schedule.

Among those is a season-ending clash with the rival San Diego Chargers. There is a very good chance that the Raiders will need to win that game to take the division crown, so that easily qualifies as their biggest remaining contest. 

New York Giants

The New York Giants have had a up and down season and currently sit at 6-4 heading into their Monday night showdown with the New Orleans Saints. While they have two games against the NFC East-leading Cowboys remaining, tomorrow night's game against the Saints may be New York's biggest of the season.

After starting 6-2, the Giants have dropped two straight and need to right the ship if they want to reach the postseason. Falling to 6-5 would be unacceptable at this point. They have to beat the Saints tomorrow night.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-17 on Sunday to improve to 6-5 and they sit two full games behind the Houston Texans in the AFC South. 

Luckily for Tennessee the Texans are without starting quarterback Matt Schaub for the remainder of the season, meaning that the Titans could have a chance to catch them. On New Year's Day Tennessee goes into Houston to finish the season. A playoff spot could be on the line and the Titans have to get a win in that game.

New York Jets

The New York Jets stopped a two-game losing streak on Sunday, sneaking by the Buffalo Bills 28-24 and improving to 6-5. While the Jets may not be able to reach the playoffs this season, they could have a chance if they continue to improve.

They face the Washington Redskins in Week 13 and that is a must-win game, because the Jets can't afford to drop to 6-6. A 7-5 record entering a Week 14 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs would make the Jets a legit playoff contender. 

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos entered Week 12 at 5-5 and while they may not have a playoff-caliber team, but with a few late season wins they could put pressure on the Oakland Raiders who currently occupy the top spot in the AFC West.

The biggest game left on Denver's schedule is a Week 15 home matchup with the New England Patriots. If the Broncos win that game it would be a huge upset and could put them in a position to overtake the Raiders.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills were an early season surprise and their play of late has shown why. Including today's 28-24 loss to the Jets, Buffalo has dropped four straight and five of their last six. 

At 5-6 the Bills are back to playing for pride at this point but a win at New England in Week 17 to close the season could go a long way towards building confidence towards next year. 

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks entered Week 12 at 4-6 and have been stumbling through the season with uneven performances. They are so far back of the 49ers in the NFC West that they are playing for pride as well. 

Still, a home win over San Francisco in Week 16 could spoil Jim Harbaugh's team's bid for a postseason bye and would give the Seahawks something to build on heading into next season.

Philadelphia Eagles

Like some of the other teams listed, the Eagles are currently playing for pride as they entered Week 12 at 4-6 and are currently getting beaten by the New England Patriots. 

For a team that had so much preseason hype surrounding it, Philadelphia has flopped big time. The Eagles have a chance to stay relevant however, as they travel to Dallas on Christmas Eve. If they can beat the Cowboys and possibly spoil their division title hopes it would be a big-time positive heading towards the offseason.

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers entered Week 12 at 4-6 and while they are only two games out of first place in the AFC West, things just don't look good for the Bolts. San Diego has dropped five straight and while the team currently leads the Broncos, even a win this week wouldn't make anyone feel good about its playoff chances.

What is the Chargers must-win game? How about all of them. Sure that's a cop-out but if Philip Rivers and company want to reach the postseason they will have to reel off several big wins. Take your pick from among these: at home against Baltimore (Week 15), at Detroit (Week 16) or at Oakland (Week 17).

Each of those should be considered a must-win.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs are currently 4-6 and tied for last place in the AFC West. They have lost their best offensive player (Jamaal Charles), best defensive player (Eric Berry) and their starting quarterback (Matt Cassel) for the season. Somehow they are still just two games behind the Oakland Raiders for first place in the division.

Tonight the Chiefs face the Pittsburgh Steelers and if somehow Tyler Palko can lead them to a win it could help them turn things around. Kansas City has lost three in a row and a loss to the Steelers would drop them to 4-7 and put them almost completely out of playoff consideration. They need to win tonight.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have been a huge disappointment this season. In Week 12 they improved to 4-7 with a win over the St. Louis Rams. Though they have zero chance at reaching the postseason, a Week 14 showdown with the San Francisco 49ers looms large.

If the Cardinals can beat San Francisco and show that their offense can be what it was advertised as at the beginning of the season, it could build confidence heading into next season. Quarterback Kevin Kolb and receiver Larry Fitzgerald have never gotten on the same page this year and if they can do that and show improving chemistry it will be big for the future of the franchise.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to 4-7 with a loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday and they are another team that has failed to live up to expectations after a 10-6 season last year. 

The Bucs have now lost five straight games and I think their Week 13 game against the Carolina Panthers is a must-win simply because they have to stop that losing streak. 

Cleveland Browns

The Browns dropped to 4-7 on Sunday with a 23-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. At this point, like so many teams at the end of this list, Cleveland is playing for pride.

The Browns have a home game against the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday and if they can pull out a win it would be huge for the franchise's future. It would show that they can compete and they could eventually be a player in the AFC North if they fill out the roster on both sides of the ball.

It would also give second-year quarterback Colt McCoy a big win to hang his hat on.

Washington Redskins

The Redskins opened the season 3-1 and have since dropped six straight games. They are currently locked in a close battle with the Seattle Seahawks today in one of the more irrelevant games on the NFL's schedule this weekend.

In Week 15 the Redskins face Eli Manning and the rival New York Giants. If Mike Shanahan's team could somehow pull out a win it would be a big-time confidence booster, plus the chance to play spoiler for a rival squad is always a big deal.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars are 3-8 after dropping a 20-13 decision to the Houston Texans on Sunday. The Jags have really been terrible this season, and they own the league's worst passing offense, gaining just 129.4 yards per game. 

This is a lost season for Jacksonville only game left the team absolutely have to win is the season finale against the Indianapolis Colts. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert can't afford to let his team lose to the NFL's worst team in the season's final week. 

Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers kept the Indianapolis Colts winless on Sunday with a 27-19 road win and improved their own record to 3-8. 

Newton opened the season hot, generating a lot of press for his gaudy numbers and flashy performances. But a three-win season without any big wins isn't exactly anything to hang your hat on. But in Week 17 Newton takes his team on the road to face the New Orleans Saints and a win in the Big Easy would give him the signature win he needs in his rookie season.

That would be a huge victory for Newton and the franchise.

Miami Dolphins

Tony Sparano's Miami Dolphins have looked like a different team over the last four weeks, going 3-1, but that includes a 20-19 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving that they probably should have won.

While they are 3-7 and have no shot at the postseason, the Dolphins have a chance to prove they are a vastly improved team when they go on the road to face the New England Patriots in Week 16. If they can finish well and win that Christmas Eve game it may end up saving Sparano's job.

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings fell to 2-9 on Sunday thanks to a 24-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Like all the other young quarterbacks in the league, rookie Christian Ponder needs a big win to help his confidence. 

In Week 14 the Vikings go on the road to face the Detroit Lions and if Ponder could lead them to a victory it would certainly give his teammates and the fanbase confidence in the team's young quarterback.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams dropped to 2-9 on Sunday with a 23-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. St. Louis has been a disappointment this season as many expected the team to be far better in quarterback Sam Bradford's second season. 

Still the Rams have two games left against the NFC West-leading San Francisco 49ers, the second of those contests will be at home in Week 17. If Bradford can lead his team to a win over one of the top teams in the league in the season's final game it would be a good way to enter the postseason.

Indianapolis Colts

Oh the Colts. The poor, poor Colts. They dropped to 0-11 on Sunday with a 27-19 loss to the Carolina Panthers and there doesn't appear to be any relief in sight for Indianapolis. 

So which game is a must-win for Indy? All of them. The Colts need a win somewhere. Their best chance for a win is likely to be against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17, the season's final game. The chances that the Colts have to win a road game against a solid defense to avoid going winless are pretty high.

Indianapolis simply mist beat the Jags to end the season.