Thursday night marks the start of the fifth week of NFL games.
With the excitement already building up for some teams, others are looking for a much needed win.
Teams that are struggling want to show they aren’t complete failures this season.
Others are looking for an easy win to keep from slipping further down in the standings.
So out of the 32 NFL teams, which three need a win in week five of the NFL season?
3. Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders came into this season looking like contenders for the AFC West title.
However, their season has been plagued with mistakes that have cost them games.
Mistakes by quarterback Derek Carr this season are destroying the team’s playoff chances for 2022.
But they are also suffering from mismanagement of their star running back, Josh Jacobs.
My god the Raiders lost a 24-19 game with Josh Jacobs abandoned after averaging over 7 yards per touch. Derek Carr threw THREE interceptions. I don't think I realized the level of misusage with Jacobs last week. They definitely could have won.
— JAKE ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) September 14, 2022
At 1-3 going into week five, the Raiders need a win to keep from falling out of contention early in the season.
With them facing the Kansas City Chiefs in week five, there’s a possibility they can turn things around.
A win against their AFC West rivals puts them back in striking distance in their division.
2. New England Patriots
Ever since Tom Brady left the New England Patriots, the team hasn’t been the same.
Head coach Bill Belichick doesn’t look like the great Super Bowl coach people see him as in football.
With the Patriots starting the season at 1-3, they are desperate for a win.
However, with their current QB issues, it could become a tough battle for them.
Quarterback Question: So who’s the Patriots backup to the backup to the backup for Mac Jones who’s still nursing the ankle injury? Any suggestions #7News
— Steve Cooper (@scooperon7) October 3, 2022
Starting QB Mac Jones is out with an ankle injury while backup QB Brian Hoyer needs to clear the NFL concussion protocol before he can return.
This now leaves the Patriots with rookie QB Bailey Zappe, who nearly helped the Patriots defeat the Green Bay Packers in week four.
Aaron Rodgers and the Cheese Heads needing nearly every second of Overtime to beat a Bailey Zappe led Patriots team was not on the radar at the beginning of the season.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) October 2, 2022
With the team facing the Detroit Lions in week five, their chances of a rebound are good.
However, they need their defense to hold off a Lions team who leads the league in points scored going into week five.
1. Carolina Panthers
Time is ticking on Matt Rhule and Baker Mayfield in Carolina.
The two are disappointing fans, and both might be gone after the season is over.
However, if they get a much needed win during week five, their luck can change.
While they are 1-3 this season, they are only one game out from first place in the NFC South.
With the team facing the San Francisco 49ers this week, they need a win.
But it’s up to Mayfield and the offense to show they can do better than the 262.25 yards per game they are averaging.
They also need their QB to make smarter plays, as his passes are getting batted down at the line of scrimmage.
His 747 passing yards and four touchdowns for the season aren’t the numbers the Panthers offense needs currently.
They need better numbers, especially with touchdowns, as running back Christian McCaffrey hasn’t found consistency this season.
If Mayfield can make a change, and McCaffrey can cut through the 49ers’ defense, they might get their much needed week five win.
NEXT: 3 NFL Teams On Upset Alert In Week 5