Indianapolis Colts

6 Teams Who Need a Win in NFL Week 9

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:27 p.m. ET

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Entering NFL Week 9, there are plethora of teams in important matchups. But which six teams need a win the most?

With the league at the midseason point, NFL Week 9 is crucial in a number of ways. Only adding to the importance of that is a slate of trap-games, divisional matchups, and so much more. Subsequently, there are a handful of teams that need to pick up a win this week.

As always, there is the Cleveland Browns who have yet to gain a win this season, but they will not be on this week’s list. A victory won’t really do much for them at this point of the season. Do they really need a win? A win will only hurt their draft status and, for the rest of the 2016 season, scouting should be their top focus. The San Francisco 49ers could use another win, too but they really don’t need one as they’re in a similar position to Cleveland.

One team that is on this list is the Philadelphia Eagles. They need to shake off their tough overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday night and had better be ready to play the New York Giants, with these teams tied for second place in the NFC East. Provided a win by the Cowboys over the Browns this Sunday and the loser of the Eagles-Giants matchup will be three games back of Dallas in the standings.

There are others we’ll get to, but the Eagles stand out the most right now as a team who could really use a win. If they play teams like they did the Cowboys the rest of the way, Philly will be dangerous.

Here are the six teams who need a win in NFL Week 9.

Oct 30, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) is pressured by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Tyrone Crawford (98) at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys beat the Eagles 29-23 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Eagles (4-3)

The Eagles defense played the Dallas Cowboys offense very tough for the four quarters of regulation on Sunday Night Football, but overtime hurt them and they ended up losing by a touchdown, falling two games back of their division rival.

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Philly is a solid team with a winning record, but a division loss to the Giants would be tough at this point of the season, especially with the Cowboys in first place with their hot streak they are currently on. There is a good chance the Eagles come out of this game with a win. No disrespect to the Giants, but even with the same overall record and with the Giants having a win over the Cowboys already this year, the Eagles can ill afford to lose four of their past five games. A loss to the Giants would cause that.

If the Eagles were to lose this game on Sunday, reaching the playoffs would begin to be a tougher accomplishment to achieve, even at 4-4 overall. The Eagles have to stop the Giants speedy and talented core of wide receivers and have a pass rush against Eli Manning like they did against Dak Prescott to gain a needed win this weekend.

Oct 23, 2016; London, ENG; Quarterback Eli Manning (10) of the New York Giants hands the ball off to running back Rashad Jennings (23) during the third quarter of the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Giants at Twickenham Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

New York Giants (4-3)

Keeping with the theme of the big NFC East showdown, the New York Giants need a win too. Just one of those two teams will gain a win this weekend, with the winner most likely putting the loser three games back of the Cowboys.

With the Giants coming off their bye and the Eagles coming off the overtime loss, one would expect the Giants to have the advantage in this game. What stands out for the Giants in this game is that they will have to stop the pass rush of the Eagles. Moreover, New York must start having much better offensive consistency.

Eli Manning has been average this season with just eight touchdowns and six interceptions. In his most recent game on Oct. 23 against the Los Angeles Rams, he threw for only 196 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. With the wide receivers he has to throw the ball to, something seems off with the veteran quarterback.

Maybe it is the fact the running game isn’t helping matters much either due to injuries. However, even after winning their past two games played, the Giants need this win just as much as their Philadelphia counterpart does.

The Giants and Eagles can ill afford to go three games back of the Cowboys (if Dallas wins Sunday). If it is the Giants who do lose on Sunday, though, they will have a tougher time rebounding from that deficit in the standings than the Eagles would.

Oct 23, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters (22) gets the hypes up the crowd during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 27-21. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)

A loss by the Chiefs this Sunday wouldn’t kill their chances, but it would put them even further behind the Denver Broncos or Oakland Raiders. Denver and Oakland face each other this Sunday, so one of them will win (though you never know with the ties in 2016). Thus, a loss from Kansas City would be devastating.

The Chiefs face the Jacksonville Jaguars at home, and we all know how the Jaguars have struggled yet again this season. Subsequently, this is as close to a winnable game a team can have on a given week.

KC has three-straight wins, but their AFC West counterparts Denver and Oakland enter this week with not only 6-2 records, but two-game winning streaks of their own. The Chiefs are also 3-0 at Arrowhead Stadium this year, but we also need to remember Alex Smith won’t be the starting quarterback this week due to a concussion. Taking his spot will be Nick Foles.

This game will be pivotal in the Chiefs staying alive in the division and carrying momentum into the second half of the season. A loss, though, could derail a solid start and put them in a tough spot.

Oct 30, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts safety T.J. Green (32) looses his helmet after making contact with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) after he scored in the end zone at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

Indianapolis Colts (3-5)

The Colts seem to have been here before in recent weeks. Already two games back of the Houston Texans, they can’t continue to be as inconsistent as they have been this year or they will lose any chance of competing for the AFC South title.

Andrew Luck gets hit way too much for a franchise quarterback, but the Colts front office has done very little to build an offensive line sturdy enough to protect the most important player on the roster. This week, the Colts face a Green Bay Packers team that has had more twists and turns than a rollercoaster.

The Packers are going to be a tough team to beat, especially since they can take over the top spot in their own division this week with a win and a Minnesota Vikings loss. That said, Indianapolis needs to start showing they belong in the talk of teams who can compete against the tougher competition.

A loss to Green Bay on Sunday, and the Colts can kiss any chance of making the playoffs goodbye. The Colts have a good opportunity to gain in the standings with the Texans on a bye this week, but will they actually take advantage of it?

Oct 23, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) catches a pass as New York Giants linebacker Keenan Robinson (57) defends during game 16 of the NFL International Series at Twickenham Statdium. The Giants defeated the Rams 17-10. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Rams (3-5)

The Rams are one win worse than the Seattle Seahawks in their division. In Week 9, they face a Carolina Panthers team that is as inconsistent as they have been this season. The Rams not only need this win, but have a good chance to achieve it, too.

For the Rams, they are still a team that needs to find an offensive identity because they’ve not done enough to help Todd Gurley have the success he had last season as a rookie and their quarterback play under Case Keenum leaves the fan base wanting for more.

Gurley is averaging just three yards per carry this season, with the second-year running back having zero 100-yard games rushing (his best is 85 yards at Tampa Bay) and has just three touchdowns on the year. Numbers with a running back like that just can’t happen as he’s totaled just 403 total rushing yards on the season.

A win by the Rams and a Seahawks loss could really shake up the NFC West standings, and for the Rams, that would be a welcome sight with the inconsistency they’ve been a part of thus far in ’16.

Oct 30, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) attempts a fourth down pass in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Chargers 27-19. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego Chargers (3-5)

San Diego is in last place in the AFC West. As they’re already two games back of the third-place Kansas City Chiefs, a loss this week against the Tennessee Titans means all hopes of being a playoff contender can be put away until next season.

The Chargers haven’t been able to put four complete quarters together most of the season. Even in their wins, they make their fans sweat it out more than they need to. A win against a team who is playing well like the Titans won’t be easy, especially with Tennessee coming off a win last weekend.

At least the Chargers will be hosting this game, where they are 2-1 on the season, because on the road they’ve compiled a record of 1-4. That record has led to the hole they’ve dug for themselves in the AFC West standings.

It isn’t a complete given the Chargers will win on Sunday, but they do have a chance if they can stop the running backs of the Titans. If they don’t, a loss is likely and then many questions might be raised as to what will be the next step for this franchise that has fallen to the bottom of their division as of late.

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