NFL Picks Week 5: Atlanta Falcons and 5 Teams Primed for Upsets

Week 5 of the NFL schedule offers some intriguing matchups, and like any week, there is the possibility of a few upsets. However, the five "upsets" offered below are games that wouldn't have appeared as surprise wins coming into the season.

These five preseason contenders have chances to beat teams with better record this coming weekend:  

Atlanta Falcons

It's still hard to forget what the Packers did to the Falcons last January in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs, and Aaron Rodgers is as good right now as he's ever been, but don't count out these dirty birds. You can't forget that the Falcons took down the Packers during the regular season at home, and you'd have to think that they've had this game circled for a while. Emotion seems to play on the side of the Falcons, confidence for the Packers. Which wins? We've seen emotion win that battle in the past. 

New York Jets

The Jets masterfully executed their defensive game plan against Tom Brady in the playoffs last season, and Rex Ryan will surely have something up his sleeve when he faces the reigning MVP this weekend. The Jets desperately need to get their season back on track, too. The Ravens and Raiders delivered knockout punches in back-to-back fashion to a team that prides itself on being more physical. They'll need to out-muscle the Patriots to pull off this upset.

Philadelphia Eagles

Is there a team in the NFL that needs a win more right now than the Eagles? They've lost three in a row after winning their opener, and the defense is in shambles. One general rule, however: Don't count out a team as talented as the Eagles, no matter what their record. A trip to Buffalo is far from easy these days, but the Bills are reeling a bit too after losing a game they should have won in Cincinnati. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

This is an old, wounded team that looks like a shell of what they were a year ago. You can blame it on age, the offensive line or the Super Bowl hangover, but things aren't looking sunny these days in Pittsburgh. They get a Titans team who has surprised people with a 3-1 record, which includes a win over the Ravens. Talent-wise, this is still a game I think the Steelers should win. They need to prove it on the field to pull off this upset.

Chicago Bears

It's easy to forget about the Bears, who won the NFC North a year ago, because of the Lions' 4-0 start. That's understandable. Still, the Bears are plenty capable of delivering a wake-up call to Detroit, who will be playing its first Monday night game at home since 2001.  With the media storm that will be surrounding Detroit over the next week in anticipation of this prime-time game, it'd be easy to see the Lions looking a little flat to open. If the Lions start as slow as they have the past two weeks, Chicago will hand them their first loss.