Week 5 Upsets

Week 5 of the NFL is almost here. This season has provided many surprises and outcomes that no one saw coming. This week should feature even more of the same. There are a few teams that should be on major upset alert heading into their games this week. Who exactly should be ready to see a loss instead of an expected win on Sunday?

Buffalo Will Circle The Wagons In San Francisco

The Buffalo Bills got walloped by the New England Patriots last Sunday. On paper, it looks like Frank Gore could have 200 yards rushing. However, the Bills are going to show that they have pride and passion for what they do. As long as Ryan Fitzpatrick limits his mistakes, it will be a much closer game than many people are expecting it to be.

For the first time in 20 years, the Bills and Niners are going to be playing in a game that means something for both teams. For San Francisco, a loss to Buffalo could open the door for the Cardinals to take a commanding lead in the NFC West.

New Orleans Will Shock The Chargers

New Orleans is 0-4 to start the 2012 season. This means that the Saints are officially a bad team. While picking the Saints to win in the past was almost a given, they have fallen far enough to qualify as an upset pick for this week. Drew Brees is doing his best to keep his team going.

He will need to have 500 yards passing this week if they expect to win. A running game will help control the clock. If Phillip Rivers has a bad game, the Chargers could be in for a tough contest. The Saints are also playing a team that tends to play down to its competition.

Cleveland Will Show They Are The Bigger Team

The Browns go on the road to take on the Giants this week. The Giants should take care of business relatively easily. However, the Browns are good at going on the road to beat good teams. Two years ago, they beat the Saints on the road in a game that certainly did not go as planned for New Orleans.

If Trent Richardson has a good game, it could keep Eli Manning off the field. Cleveland is also going to take advantage of the fact that Manning tends to be shaky in the first three quarters. The Browns could get off to a fast start. They should be able to hold that lead long enough to get their first win of the year.

The Colts Will Get Lucky Against The Packers

Aaron Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. However, he has struggled for long stretches of the season. What looked like an easy schedule to start the season has given the Packers fits. While the Colts look like an easy win, the Packers have struggled to win games on the road.

The referees have also given the Packers a heart attack each of the last two weeks. It should be fun to see how Andrew Luck performs against a defense that has improved since last season. Clay Matthews will need to be watched carefully.

The Rams Will Sacrifice The Cardinals

The Cardinals are the biggest surprise in the NFL this season. They have started 4-0 with a great defense and an opportunistic offense. The Rams have won both of their games this season at home. Considering that the game is in St. Louis, it is a good bet that the Rams will be the team to end their undefeated start to the season.

For the Rams, their defense will have to play better than the Cardinals defense. Despite their terrible offense, the Cardinals have been shutting teams down on the other side of the ball. Patrick Peterson will also be a key player on both defense and special teams for Arizona. However, the Rams do have enough talent to beat one of the best teams in the NFL right now.

There are going to be a lot of great games this week in the NFL. Several teams that may be expecting an easy win this week will have to think about that again. The Colts, Rams, Saints and Browns are all pining for a win against a superior team. As long as they play their best, it is certainly possible that these teams can steal a win from teams who are fighting for a playoff spot.

About the Author: Don Phan is a full time marketing analyst with Fanatics Inc. His company sells licensed sports merchandise and runs several brands including Pro Sports Memorabilia. Be sure to visit their NFL memorabilia shop for the latest in signed NFL merchandise.