NFL Teams on Upset Alert for Week 3

In Week 2, NFL teams went 14-2 at home, a statistic that resulted in a number of upsets.

Teams like the New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos—all good teams—were not able to overcome home-field advantage (and/or replacement-referee ineptitude) and found themselves with the short end of the stick.

It's impossible to know if that trend will continue into Week 3 and beyond, but it is notable. If the replacement refs continue to let themselves be influenced by home crowds, visiting teams will find it harder and harder to come out on top.

Week 2 also showed us just how unpredictable this age of parity can be in the NFL. Teams like Cleveland, Buffalo and Arizona looked infinitely better in Week 2 than in Week 1, while teams like Washington, Arizona and the New York Jets fell completely off the map.

So, which teams are on upset alert in Week 3?

Philadelphia Eagles (at Arizona Cardinals)

The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-0 by the slimmest margin of victory in the history of the NFL.

According to ESPN, the Eagles are the first team ever to win their first two games by a margin of one point. In addition, Philly has the NFL lead in turnovers (nine, five in the first week alone!) and tied for second in the league with a give/take of minus-3.

In essence, the Eagles have handed wins over in two straight weeks, and the opposing teams have politely declined.

The Arizona Cardinals will not be so polite.

If the Cardinals could run roughshod over the New England Patriots in Gillette, what do you think they could do with the Eagles coming to town? Mike Vick seems interested in throwing the ball directly to the opposing team anyway, how about when that Cardinals front seven gets in his face?

The Eagles' salvation in this game should be their defense. Kevin Kolb is not a very good quarterback, and mistakes will be made. If the Eagles hope to win this game, they need to take advantage of the Cardinals' mistakes and limit their own.

Washington Redskins (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

Washington is the only home team on this list, and their inclusion has everything to do with the announcement earlier this week that Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker will miss the rest of the season with their respective injuries.

Andy Dalton was unmasked in Week 1 against a tough Baltimore defense, but the league was reminded in Week 2 what he could do with a little bit of time and a little open space in the secondary.

If the Redskins defense isn't ready to apply serious pressure, Dalton could have another field day.

Washington's biggest asset in this game isn't even Robert Griffin III; it's their potent rushing attack, led by rookie Alfred Morris. Cincinnati has allowed 126 rushing yards a game through two weeks, and if they're not careful, the 'Skins have the ability to put that up in the first half.

The Redskins have to keep the ball away from the Bengals offense and find a way to pressure Dalton without Orakpo and Carriker. If they can't, the Bengals will steal one on the road.

New York Giants (at Carolina Panthers)

As predicted, the Giants had all they could handle with the NFC South last week, and Week 3 should be no different. Thankfully for Big Blue, the Carolina Panthers secondary isn't quite as good as the that of the Buccaneers, and the middle of the defense isn't as stout. The matchup isn't great, but it's slightly better than Week 2.

Little of that matters, though, to a Giants team that has more than enough talent to win every game but finds itself standing in its own way more often than not.

In Week 1, Tom Coughlin forgot Eli Manning existed with a ground-heavy attack which led the Giants to an 0-1 start. In Week 2, Manning was allowed to air it out and promptly threw three interceptions (apparently starting a family tradition).

If Eli isn't allowed to throw or can't remember which shade of blue to throw to, this could be another long game for the Giants. Cam Newton and the Panthers have the ability to put up a lot of points, and the Giants don't want to be in another shootout.

Green Bay Packers (at Seattle Seahawks)

When the Packers lost in Week 1 (even to a team as good as the San Francisco 49ers), the water officially had blood in it. Aaron Rodgers looked less than invincible, and the Packers defense looked like it could be beaten. Even after a Week 2 defeat of the Chicago Bears, teams aren't going to cower when Green Bay comes to town.

Seattle, with one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL, has a chance in any home game. The Seahawks also matchup well with the Packers.

This isn't to say the Packers will lose, but they shouldn't look past this game, either.

Seattle's defense has the bodies to lock up even the Packers' deep receiving corps. Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner are two of the league's youngest budding superstars and will give Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson all they can handle.

On the other side of the ball, Russell Wilson will still make some rookie mistakes, but he also has the ability to create plays on his own, which can frustrate defenses. Expect the Seahawks to move Wilson around to attempt to keep Clay Matthews at bay.

The best way to do that, though, will be to run Marshawn Lynch right down the Packers' throats. The Packers are giving up over five yards per carry so far in 2012, and if Lynch goes "beast mode," the Seahawks won't look back.

If the Packers want to win, Rodgers needs to be efficient and smart, and the Packers defense needs to remember how to stop the run. In a tough NFL, the Packers need road wins like this if they want another shot at the Lombardi Trophy.

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Michael Schottey is the NFL national lead writer for Bleacher Report and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Find more of his stuff alongside other great writers at "The Go Route."