We're finally getting into that crucial mid-season area where teams begin to drop out of the playoff picture like flies. There are a number of high profile teams in very real danger of doing just that. Here's five teams that cannot afford a loss this weekend.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are 2-3 in one of the toughest divisions in football. Their defense has given away leads late in games, and their offense has struggled to seal the deal in the fourth quarter. To top it off, the Steelers are playing the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday Night Football. The Bengals are 3-3, and they have a very real chance of knocking the Steelers down and out for good with a win.
Dallas Cowboys
Like the Steelers, the Cowboys enter this weekend's game with a 2-3 record and playing in a difficult division. With a loss, the Cowboys will be put in a position where they need to win nearly every game left on their schedule, and Jason Garrett would likely be looking for a job at the end of the season.
Detroit Lions
The Lions saved their season a week ago against the Eagles. The Lions play the Bears in a divisional matchup that could bump the Lions from the playoff picture prematurely. To top it off, it's a Monday Night Football matchup, and it should make for great TV, regardless of the outcome.
Green Bay Packers
Where are the Packers from a season ago? The Packers unloaded on the Texans last week, but they're still only 3-3, and a loss to the Rams could give the Bears a stranglehold on the division, despite holding the head to head tiebreaker.
Washington Redskins
The Redskins are 3-3 with a rookie quarterback, heading into a huge matchup against the division leading Giants. A win would put the Redskins in a tie atop the NFC East, but a loss drops them below .500 and dangerously close to becoming a playoff afterthought.
