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BwareDWare94
Where were you when the world stopped turning?
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- Jan 26, 2011
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Had some success last week. This week is a lot harder. Plenty of good matchups.
Week 3 Upset #1: Ravens over Texans
Why it might happen:
Baltimore is a significantly different team at home, and though Ray Rice's injury has me concerned, Bernard Pierce is no slouch. I like how Smith matches up against Houston's secondary, and think that Marlon Brown could have another nice game, and if Brown scores another TD this week, he's on a TD streak to start the season, as an undrafted rookie. With a nasty defensive front, Baltimore should be able to contain Foster and Tate, forcing Schaub to beat them with his arm. I don't like Schaub's chances against Flacco, but for Flacco to beat him, Webb and and the rest of that Baltimore secondary has to, at the very least, not allow Andre and Hopkins to go off. I'm also intrigued by the ascension of Elam, allowing Huff to not feel so much pressure on every snap.
Is it actually an upset?
At this point, yes. Baltimore's offense is struggling without a go-to receiver, which Smith has never proven to be on a consistent basis. I like what I've seen from Brown so far, but for Baltimore's offense to take the next step, it needs a third receiving option to break out. The Ravens either need to wait for Jacoby to get back, or Doss has to magically become what some seem to think he can be. At his size, there's no excuse at this point. They already cut him once; this is his last chance.
I picked Baltimore, but I'm very concerned. At the same time, the Ravens are the best team Houston will have played yet, and the Texans sure tried to lose to San Diego and Tennessee.
Week 3 Upset #2: Bengals over Packers
Why it might happen:
Cincinnati doesn't have the necessary firepower, the can-score-on-nearly-every-possession-in-every-game firepower, to compete with Rodgers and his weaponry. What they'll have to do, to balance it out, is force some turnovers without committing any of their own. The Bengals will not win this game if the turnover ratio is even or in favor of the Pack. They simply won't. Their DL can terrorize Rodgers all day, but their secondary is not good enough to contain 4-5 excellent weapons like Green Bay has. This is certainly possible, but Dalton has to play extremely well, and their defense has to force some TOs.
Is it actually an upset?
Without question, in my opinion. The Bengals are good, but they're not explosive enough to realistically compete with teams like Green Bay.
I don't think this one is likely, but it's possible.
Week 3 Upset #3: Buccaneers over Patriots
Why it could happen:
Tom Brady and New England are really struggling on offense, and without any real proven weapons, and with their best receiver being yet another Welker clone who Revis could shut down fairly easily, I'm really not concerned about New England pulling away in this game. Matter of fact, Josh Freeman has to shit the bed in order for that to happen, and I know he'll try hard to do just that. The Bucs defense is absolutely capable of giving New England some fits, and I think they could very easily win in Foxborough this weekend. It all comes down to Freeman. Scary thought for Bucs fans.
Is it actually an upset?
An 0-2 beating New England is always an upset, and I just have a feeling about this game. New England almost always has one or two surprise losses on their schedule, like losing to Arizona, or to Seattle last year. It just seems to happen every season, and this is a week that looks dangerous.
I really think this could happen.
Week 3 Upset #4: Cardinals over Saints
Why it will happen:
The Saints have yet to explode on offense, and they've yet to play a defense as good as Arizona's. Yes, Tampa's may be better at some point, but they're still gelling with new pieces. Arizona, on the other hand, has some real solidarity from front to back on their defense. On offense, I'm not sure that New Orleans has what's necessary to deal with Arizona's weapons or Bruce Arians' creativity. While the Saints defense has been impressive thus far, there will be games when their lack of necessary pieces will fall apart. This week is where we'll see it the first time.
Is it actually an upset?
In the eyes of the general fan, it's a massive upset as the game is in New Orleans. To us? I'm not so sure. Some of us have mentioned the Cardinals as a surprise team since the Palmer trade, and I think more have taken notice.
I really believe this game will be won by the Cardinals.
(Note: I bypassed Dolphins over Falcons, mostly because of how depleted Atlanta's become. It's no longer an upset, considering the Dolphins are at home)
Week 3 Upset #5: Steelers over Bears
Why it might happen:
The Bears have yet to see the bad Jay Cutler. His two interceptions last Sunday were the result of awful playcalling and one sick read by the ascending Harrison Smith. Against a tough, seasoned defense like Pittsburgh, and in Pittsburgh, we may very well see Mr. Hide Cutler's first appearance. Big Ben and that offense will need some turnovers to help them out, especially against a fairly solid, if not the same as past years, Bears defense. I think Ben doesn't let his team slip to 0-3. Tomlin was obviously embarrassed after Monday's loss, and perhaps this is where the tide turns.
Is it actually an upset?
I don't think so. The Bears could very easily be 0-2, and while that doesn't necessarily matter, the Steelers have now had time to adjust to Pouncey's absence, so hopefully their running game won't be so atrocious this week. What it'll come down to is Pittsburgh's young receivers not allowing Chicago's ball hawking secondary to get too many good looks at Big Ben's passes.
I don't think this one happens, but it's definitely possible at Heinz field.
Week 3 Upset #6: Jaguars over Seahawks
Why it might happen:
I'm just fucking with you. The Seahawks will probably shut the Jags out
.
Week 3 Upset #1: Ravens over Texans
Why it might happen:
Baltimore is a significantly different team at home, and though Ray Rice's injury has me concerned, Bernard Pierce is no slouch. I like how Smith matches up against Houston's secondary, and think that Marlon Brown could have another nice game, and if Brown scores another TD this week, he's on a TD streak to start the season, as an undrafted rookie. With a nasty defensive front, Baltimore should be able to contain Foster and Tate, forcing Schaub to beat them with his arm. I don't like Schaub's chances against Flacco, but for Flacco to beat him, Webb and and the rest of that Baltimore secondary has to, at the very least, not allow Andre and Hopkins to go off. I'm also intrigued by the ascension of Elam, allowing Huff to not feel so much pressure on every snap.
Is it actually an upset?
At this point, yes. Baltimore's offense is struggling without a go-to receiver, which Smith has never proven to be on a consistent basis. I like what I've seen from Brown so far, but for Baltimore's offense to take the next step, it needs a third receiving option to break out. The Ravens either need to wait for Jacoby to get back, or Doss has to magically become what some seem to think he can be. At his size, there's no excuse at this point. They already cut him once; this is his last chance.
I picked Baltimore, but I'm very concerned. At the same time, the Ravens are the best team Houston will have played yet, and the Texans sure tried to lose to San Diego and Tennessee.
Week 3 Upset #2: Bengals over Packers
Why it might happen:
Cincinnati doesn't have the necessary firepower, the can-score-on-nearly-every-possession-in-every-game firepower, to compete with Rodgers and his weaponry. What they'll have to do, to balance it out, is force some turnovers without committing any of their own. The Bengals will not win this game if the turnover ratio is even or in favor of the Pack. They simply won't. Their DL can terrorize Rodgers all day, but their secondary is not good enough to contain 4-5 excellent weapons like Green Bay has. This is certainly possible, but Dalton has to play extremely well, and their defense has to force some TOs.
Is it actually an upset?
Without question, in my opinion. The Bengals are good, but they're not explosive enough to realistically compete with teams like Green Bay.
I don't think this one is likely, but it's possible.
Week 3 Upset #3: Buccaneers over Patriots
Why it could happen:
Tom Brady and New England are really struggling on offense, and without any real proven weapons, and with their best receiver being yet another Welker clone who Revis could shut down fairly easily, I'm really not concerned about New England pulling away in this game. Matter of fact, Josh Freeman has to shit the bed in order for that to happen, and I know he'll try hard to do just that. The Bucs defense is absolutely capable of giving New England some fits, and I think they could very easily win in Foxborough this weekend. It all comes down to Freeman. Scary thought for Bucs fans.
Is it actually an upset?
An 0-2 beating New England is always an upset, and I just have a feeling about this game. New England almost always has one or two surprise losses on their schedule, like losing to Arizona, or to Seattle last year. It just seems to happen every season, and this is a week that looks dangerous.
I really think this could happen.
Week 3 Upset #4: Cardinals over Saints
Why it will happen:
The Saints have yet to explode on offense, and they've yet to play a defense as good as Arizona's. Yes, Tampa's may be better at some point, but they're still gelling with new pieces. Arizona, on the other hand, has some real solidarity from front to back on their defense. On offense, I'm not sure that New Orleans has what's necessary to deal with Arizona's weapons or Bruce Arians' creativity. While the Saints defense has been impressive thus far, there will be games when their lack of necessary pieces will fall apart. This week is where we'll see it the first time.
Is it actually an upset?
In the eyes of the general fan, it's a massive upset as the game is in New Orleans. To us? I'm not so sure. Some of us have mentioned the Cardinals as a surprise team since the Palmer trade, and I think more have taken notice.
I really believe this game will be won by the Cardinals.
(Note: I bypassed Dolphins over Falcons, mostly because of how depleted Atlanta's become. It's no longer an upset, considering the Dolphins are at home)
Week 3 Upset #5: Steelers over Bears
Why it might happen:
The Bears have yet to see the bad Jay Cutler. His two interceptions last Sunday were the result of awful playcalling and one sick read by the ascending Harrison Smith. Against a tough, seasoned defense like Pittsburgh, and in Pittsburgh, we may very well see Mr. Hide Cutler's first appearance. Big Ben and that offense will need some turnovers to help them out, especially against a fairly solid, if not the same as past years, Bears defense. I think Ben doesn't let his team slip to 0-3. Tomlin was obviously embarrassed after Monday's loss, and perhaps this is where the tide turns.
Is it actually an upset?
I don't think so. The Bears could very easily be 0-2, and while that doesn't necessarily matter, the Steelers have now had time to adjust to Pouncey's absence, so hopefully their running game won't be so atrocious this week. What it'll come down to is Pittsburgh's young receivers not allowing Chicago's ball hawking secondary to get too many good looks at Big Ben's passes.
I don't think this one happens, but it's definitely possible at Heinz field.
Week 3 Upset #6: Jaguars over Seahawks
Why it might happen:
I'm just fucking with you. The Seahawks will probably shut the Jags out
