NFL Week 4 Predictions: 5 Teams Poised to Cause Upsets

The NFL season is already four weeks old!

Can you believe it?

As with any season, there are surprising teams like the 3-0 Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions, and there are disappointing teams like the 0-3 Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs.

The first three weeks of the 2011 NFL season has already given us a bevy of exciting games and highlights. It's even sweeter after considering the lockout's possible evisceration of every game. 

We lucky fans, especially those who have (or have friends with) NFL Sunday Ticket, have also been treated to some great upsets. 

Here are five upsets that I believe will take place in Week 4.  

Detroit Lions over Dallas Cowboys

The 2-1 Dallas Cowboys are one and a half point favorites over the 3-0 Detroit Lions. 

While I may disagree with the oddsmakers on this one, it's understandable that the Cowboys are favored. They barely lost in Week 1 to the New York Jets, have rebounded over the past two weeks to put themselves atop the NFC East (via tiebreaker) and the game will be played in Arlington. 

Still, both of their victories were nail-biters and center Phil Costa continues to have snap issues—to put it nicely. 

I get the sense that if Dallas was playing a 3-0 team not from Detroit, they'd likely be the underdog. Yes, the Lions have been one of the league's worst franchises over the past decade or so, but this Detroit squad is poised to break the mold.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford has a QB Rating of 110.7, 977 passing yards and nine touchdowns. Wide Receiver Calvin Johnson already has six touchdowns to go along with his 225 receiving yards. Stafford and Johnson have become of the NFL's best quarterback-receiver combinations, and they're a big reason why the Lions are the league's fourth best passing attack—averaging 321.7 yards per game—and scoring offense—averaging 33.7 points per game. 

The defense, anchored by Defensive Tackle Ndamukong Suh, is doing their part, as well. They're holding opponents to 15.3 points per game (third overall) and 301 total yards per game (sixth overall). 

Dallas will need a lot of offense to keep up with Detroit, which won't be an easy task. The Cowboys are averaging 10.7 less points per game than the Lions (33.7 to 23), and they'll be facing the league's fourth best pass defense without Wide Receiver Miles Austin. Scoring solely in the kicking game may have gotten them a win against the Washington Redskins in Week 3, but it won't equate to a W in Week 4. 

It will be a fun game to watch, close for the first three and a half quarters until the Lions pull away.

Final Score: Detroit 35, Dallas 24. 

Tennessee Titans over Cleveland Browns

The 2-1 Cleveland Browns are one point favorites over the 2-1 Tennessee Titans.

Both teams are on two game winning streaks, thanks in part to solid play from their respective quarterbacks, Colt McCoy and Matt Hasselbeck.

It's not usual for a contest between two 2-1 teams to be labeled as a potential trap game for the favorite. The game is in Cleveland, Tennessee recently lost their best Wide Receiver for the rest of the season in Kenny Britt and the Titans' biggest weapon, Running Back Chris Johnson, has had a rough season so far—totaling just 98 receiving yards, 91 rushing yards and zero touchdowns.

Still, Johnson's too talented to not bust out sometime soon. His holdout that only ended near the regular season's commencement plays some role in his struggles, but now that we've reached Week 4, it's time for him to explode and finally reward his many fantasy football owners who each likely used their top pick in acquiring the East Carolina alum.

In Week 3's contest against the Denver Broncos, Johnson did show some flashes of his former self in the receiving game, totaling 54 yards on four catches. Now, he must return to his old self in the running game. The Browns are the NFL's fourth worst run defense—allowing 128.7 yards per game—and the Titans will likely run the ball more with Britt gone.

Cleveland's offense will have a tough task against the Titans defense. Tennessee ranks first in the NFL in yards per game allowed (261) and second in points per game allowed (14.3). The Browns can't afford to fall too far behind and hope that Colt McCoy can bring them back against the league's second best pass defense—which allows only 172 yards per game. Peyton Hillis, who sat out last week with strep throat and a fever that caused him to lose 10-12 pounds, will have to provide his team with a big game.

It's going to be tight contest in the Dog Pound that comes down to the wire. In the end, Rob Bironas (or Rob my Bironas, if you're a fan of ESPN's Chris Berman) will hit the game winner late in the fourth quarter.

Final Score: Tennessee 27, Cleveland 24.

Kansas City Chiefs over Minnesota Vikings

The 0-3 Minnesota Vikings are one and a half point favorites over the 0-3 Kansas City Chiefs.

If you love to watch disappointing teams, this is your game of the week!

The Vikings entered this season with high hopes. The Brett Favre saga was finally over and the team acquired a six-time Pro Bowl Quarterback in Donovan McNabb.

Unfortunately for the purple and gold, they've struggled to sustain leads in each of their first three games. Their last two losses were especially painful, squandering a 17-point lead against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 and a 20-point lead against the Detroit Lions in Week 3. Both games were at home and featured some very questionable play calling (how do you enter the second half with a 20-0 lead and only give Adrian Peterson, who had 73 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries in the first half, five carries in that half?).

McNabb has struggled on his third team in as many seasons. In Week 1 against the San Diego Chargers, the Syracuse alum compiled just 39 passing yards on seven completions. The last two weeks have seen McNabb increase his passing output (439 yards), but he's still throwing his fair share of errant passes. The Vikings hoped to change up his mechanics, but the two-time All-Pro selection is against it.

Entering this season, the Chiefs had hopes of repeating as AFC West champs. Instead, they find themselves with an 0-3 record and the NFL's worst defense in terms of points allowed per game—36.3. Oh, and their leading rusher from last season, Jamaal Charles, is out until next season.

In Week 1, in front of nearly 69,000 fans, the Chiefs were blown out at home 41-7 by the Buffalo Bills. In Week 2, they traveled to Detroit and got whooped 48-3. In Week 3, however, they showed flashes of their 2010 form, taking the San Diego Chargers all the way down to the wire before Matt Cassel threw the game-ending interception. Still, a 20-17 loss to the division rival Chargers has got to bring about some hope for the organization and it's fans that a turnaround could happen.

Even though both teams are 0-3, this could actually be an entertaining and well-played game. Gotta give the edge to the Chiefs because they're at home.

Final Score: Kansas City 30, Minnesota 23.

Pittsburgh Steelers over Houston Texans

The 2-1 Houston Texans are three and a half point favorites over the 2-1 Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Texans are coming off a shootout loss (40-33) against the New Orleans Saints, while the Steelers are coming off a tight win (23-20) against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Steelers have been carried by both their passing attack and defense—which is second in the NFL in yards per game allowed with 263.3. Wide Receiver Mike Wallace already has 377 receiving yards (second in the NFL behind New England's Wes Welker) to go along with his 21 receptions (third in the NFL) and two touchdowns. The Texans have a decent pass defense that's ranked 11th in the league (allowing 226.3 yards per game), but they'll have a hard time preventing Wallace from racking up his seventh straight 100-yard game.

Running back Rashard Mendenhall hasn't had too good of a season thus far, amassing just 148 rushing yards, on three yards per carry, and one touchdown. Week 4 could be Mendenhall's opportunity to have a breakout game. The Texans are allowing more than five yards per carry to opponents' running backs, and Mendenhall will soon be the best running back they've faced this season.

While the Steelers had three starting offensive lineman get helped off the field during their game against the Colts, Head Coach Mike Tomlin said it's probable that Center Doug Legursky and Right Tackle Marcus Gilbert will be ready to go. Left Tackle Johnathan Scott is questionable and would be replaced by Trai Essex if he can't play. 

Having a banged up and depth-deficient offensive line is almost always problematic, especially when you've got to worry about stopping a guy like Mario Williams. However, I believe the Steelers will protect Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger well because of their match-up last week against the Colts' Defensive Ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. Freeney and Mathis caused havoc in the Steelers' back-field—sacking Roethlisberger three times and forcing him to fumble twice—so it's reasonable to believe Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians will run numerous plays this week that feature a running back and/or tight end as an extra blocker.

The Texans have a potent offense, led by Quarterback Matt Schaub and Wide Receiver Andre Johnson (the NFL's second best receiver behind Calvin Johnson, in his opinion), that gets Running Back Arian Foster back at full strength this Sunday. Houston is certainly hoping that Foster won't miss a step because they'll need a big game from him against the Steelers' staunch D. The Texans should get a boost playing at home, since they usually play better in Reliant Stadium.

This is going to be a really exciting game. In fact, I believe this will end up being Week 4's best contest. Both offenses will move the ball down-field effectively, especially through the air. The team who's defense can make a big play late will be victorious. That team will be the Steelers.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 37, Houston 33.

Seattle Seahawks over Atlanta Falcons

The 1-2 Atlanta Falcons are four and a half point favorites against the 1-2 Seattle Seahawks.

Both teams are coming off close contests in Week 3. The Seahawks defeated the Arizona Cardinals 13-10 at home, while the Falcons lost 16-13 in Tampa Bay.

The Falcons should be favored, but this has trap game written all over it.

The Seahawks are arguably the league's worst 1-2 team. Their offense is pitiful, averaging 10 points per game (30th overall) and 214.7 total yards per game (31st overall). They're tied with the Chicago Bears for allowing the most sacks with 14. Marshawn Lynch hasn't been able to pull off any beast-mode runs this season, totaling only 117 rushing yards and zero touchdowns. The one bright spot on offense is Wide Receiver Sidney Rice, who, after missing the first two games of the season, had eight catches for 109 yards in Week 3. 

The Seahawks' defense hasn't been too bad, at least, ranking 10th in the NFL for both total yards allowed per game (318) and passing yards allowed per game (218.3). They're second in the league for total tackles with 228, but that's more a byproduct of getting beat in time of possession. 

This season, the Falcons haven't played at the same level that got them the NFC's best record last season. In Week 1, the reigning NFC South champs were beaten in Soldier Field by the Chicago Bears 30-12. After a thrilling 35-31 Week 2 victory in the Georgia Dome against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Falcons lost in Week 3 to the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in a sloppy game—football and weather-wise.

Fortunately for the Falcons, their Week 4 contest will likely take place under sunny conditions. Unfortunately for the Peach State's favorite football squad, the Seahawks' rambunctious crowd, also known as the 12th man, will be in attendance. The Seahawks play much better at home, while the Falcons are far from road warriors. 

The game will be close throughout, ending with a failed fourth down conversion by the Falcons that allows the Seahawks to run out the clock. 

Final Score: Seattle 17, Atlanta 13.


Thanks for reading!