NFL Picks Week 3: 6 Favorites Who Should Be on Upset Alert

Quoth the Baltimore Ravens, "nevermore."

The Ravens came into last week overconfident after their huge win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they were swiftly and soundly brought back down to earth by the Tennessee Titans. Will the rest of the NFL elite learn from the Ravens' mistake, or will another favorite fall victim to an overlooked opponent this weekend?

Here are the six teams who are on upset alert for Week 3 of the 2011 NFL season.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots (Opponent: Buffalo Bills)

The New England Patriots have had an excellent start to their 2011 campaign, shaking off last year's ugly playoff defeat with a road victory over the Miami Dolphins and a strong home showing against Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers.

The Patriots won both games by double-digits, with Tom Brady throwing for more yards in two games than Luke McCown probably will all season.

However, you can never overlook "Uncle Mo," who is finally on the Buffalo Bills' side after a decade or so of post-"Music City Miracle" malaise. The Bills had a huge and exciting comeback victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, so the players and fans will all be raring to go after the big, bad Patriots this Sunday.

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (Opponent: Houston Texans)

The New Orleans Saints offense has been in championship-mode since the opening kickoff, putting up 34 on the Green Bay Packers and 30 on the Chicago Bears, two vaunted defenses that ranked in the top five in scoring defense last season.

However, the Houston Texans have likewise been impressive in their first two games. The Texans embarrassed the Indianapolis Colts 34-7 in Week 1, and followed that with a 10-point victory over the Miami Dolphins last Sunday.

With Andre Johnson, the Texans are always dangerous on offense. And now the Houston defense looks much improved, as it is allowing fewer yards per game than any team in the NFL right now.

The Texans know this is finally their opportunity to seize the AFC South, and they're playing like it. 

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons are riding high after a big win over the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday night. However, Falcons fans should keep in mind the Eagles seemed to have the game in hand when Michael Vick was headbutted out of the game in the third quarter.

This week, the Falcons face the young Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who recovered from a loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 1 with a huge comeback victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

The Buccaneers lost to the Falcons twice last year by a combined 10 points. Tampa Bay is coming off a 10-6 season in which it didn't make the playoffs, surely making Josh Freeman and the rest of the young Bucs hungry for more.

And there's no better way to take a leap forward than by beating the defending division champions.

Mark Sanchez, New York Jets (Opponent: Oakland Raiders)

Though inconsistent, the Oakland Raiders have shown themselves to be a quality opponent over the past year. In 2011, the Raiders are a last-second touchdown away from being 2-0.

The New York Jets have started this season uncharacteristically smoothly, overcoming a fourth-quarter deficit to defeat a solid Dallas Cowboys team, and leaving the Jacksonville Jaguars in the dust in Week 2.

Rex Ryan's team has yet to lay the early season egg to which Jets fans have likely become accustomed. This Sunday's visit to Oakland presents an opportunity for just such an occasion.

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens (Opponent: St. Louis Rams)

I'm not sure which will be greater: the Baltimore Ravens' anger over losing to an inferior opponent in the Tennessee Titans, or the St. Louis Rams' desire to not start 0-3.

Just as they did in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Rams had control of the game early on against the New York Giants. In both cases, the Rams were unable to capitalize and were muscled out of the game by a deeper, more experienced opponent.

Conversely, the Ravens looked like world-beaters in a Week 1 throttling of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and then were out-gained by the Titans by more than 200 yards last Sunday. If the Rams can finally punch the ball in, and Week 2 Joe Flacco shows up in St. Louis, this game could go to the home team.

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (Opponent: Indianapolis Colts)

After two weeks, the Indianapolis Colts look like the kind of team that even Walter Matthau would refuse to coach. As such, it's possible Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers will come into this game assuming they can walk away with a victory.

Overconfidence could be their downfall. While all logic suggests the Steelers will win this game easily (and that the NFL should schedule night games week by week), the Cleveland Browns' domination of the New England Patriots last year still serves as a reminder that in this league, anything can happen.

Lucas Oil Stadium will be rocking for this one, as Colts fans surely feel their season slipping away. If Kerry Collins can get off to a good start and keep the fans in the game, the Colts could shock Mike Tomlin's crew.