NFL Picks Week 4: Who Will Shock the League This Afternoon?

No matter how many of your friends will swear up and down that they picked Buffalo to win last week, the reality remains that their victory was pretty shocking. And although Michael Vick's injury played a rather large role, the Eagles falling to the Giants was a result not too many predicted. The same can be said of the Seattle Seahawks' win over the Arizona Cardinals and the Indianapolis Colts' near win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That's part of what makes the NFL so great. No matter how impressive your 2-0 start might have been, all that's guaranteed by such a record is that you'll finish no worse than 2-14. And after a few upsets last week, the same can be said for 3-0 teams in Week 4.

They won't all lose, and we'll certainly see some favorites flex their muscles against weaker competition, but here are the three teams most likely to leave their opponents confused and reeling.

Denver Broncos at Green Bay Packers

I'll admit this game is on the list mostly because it'd be the most shocking result of the season. The Broncos are floundering behind Kyle Orton and a non-existent running game, meaning this is exactly the same Denver team that we've seen for three years, at least offensively. The Packers look unstoppable again, with wins over the New Orleans Saints and the Chicago Bears. On paper, in Green Bay, this one won't even be close. 

However, this is exactly the type of game we saw the Packers drop last season. Half of Green Bay's 2010 losses came at the hands of underachieving losers like the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins. Denver's defense is much improved under new coach John Fox, and although the Broncos shouldn't even be allowed on the same field as the Packers at this point, there's plenty of potential for oversight from a Green Bay team currently being told how great they are at every turn. 

Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Giants

The Cardinals were supposed to march into Seattle, throw the ball to Larry Fitzgerald around 50 times and march back out with the 2011 NFC West title securely strapped to their backs. That didn't happen. Across the country, the Giants removed a massive monkey from their backs with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles, thanks in no small part to Eli Manning's four-touchdown performance.

At first glance, this one appears to be a total mismatch. The Giants are suddenly looking like a real contender in the NFC East, while the Cardinals are reeling from a divisional loss. Still, New York's secondary is suspect at best with so many injuries still plaguing the group, and they have a penchant for following a major win with a major flop.

The game's in Arizona, too, which should help. The Cardinals are better than they looked last week, and they're catching the Giants at the perfect time. If New York spends any time looking back at Week 3's win, Fitzgerald could find enough early room set the stage for a nice upset.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Atlanta Falcons

It may sound impossible right now, but that's a word not often used in Seattle on Sundays. No one traveling to CenturyLink Field is ever fully safe, and the Falcons are no different. In fact, they may be a perfect case study. Matt Ryan is notoriously sloppier outside, and despite the strong level of competition through three weeks, the fact remains that Atlanta is just 1-2 this season. 

The Falcons are certainly the more talented club, but with Seattle building confidence following a big win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3, this one could go horribly wrong for Atlanta. There's no tougher place to play in the NFL.