Rarely should a Week 3 game against an opponent outside your conference be considered a must-win.

The Eagles start to the season proves to be an exception.

With two consecutive losses to start a season with playoff expectations, things are on the verge of unraveling.

There's been so much criticism from the media and fans alike that an 0-3 hole might be too insurmountable for even the Pope to dig out of at this point.

That's why, according to one Eagles player that Sunday's game at the Meadowlands against a tough Jets defense, it is a must-win.

"It's must win this week," Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson told NJ Advance Media after practice on Tuesday. "You can't really hang your head down low and feel sorry for yourself. If you do that it'll be a lot longer season than you want it to be. As far as this team is concerned, we've gotta get a win over a good Jets team. We've got a lot of work to do," Johnson said.

Must-win games in the month of September is bit hyperbolic, but this team may be an exception with all of the offseason changes Chip Kelly made.

It is good that Johnson knows how important this game is because his offensive line has not provided much running room for DeMarco Murray and the run game.

A win by the Eagles would put them at 1-2 and that's just what the fans would need to back off the ledge in a perceived weak NFC East division.

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