Fansided

5 NFL teams on upset alert in Week 11

By Cody Williams

Nov 16, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) reacts in the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Texans won 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) reacts in the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Texans won 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 1, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) is shown before their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) is shown before their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are coming out of their bye week into Week 11, something the team desperately needed to try to regroup from two consecutive losses over two far less talented teams. Meanwhile, the Falcons will also be at home on Sunday afternoon to face an Indianapolis Colts team that’s going to be starting the veteran Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback in place of an injured Andrew Luck. All of this seems to point to a Falcons victory, but I don’t think that’s the case.

One of the dirty secrets about the Colts this season is that their offense has looked almost entirely more competent with Hasselbeck at the helm. While Luck’s injuries may account for some of that, it’s important coming into this game because the Falcons are almost surely going to put up points on the Colts. Even with a quarterback who just finished his fourth decade of living, Hasselbeck may just give Indianapolis the best chance to keep pace with Atlanta in this game in terms of scoring.

More than anything, though, I have a complete lack of faith in the Falcons right now. In Week 9 before heading into their bye, Atlanta had what seemed like an easy matchup against Blaine Gabbert and the 49ers. They lost that game. They allowed San Francisco to make some big plays to put points on the board, but also played like a team not confident in their abilities. Maybe they fixed that over the bye week, but the last time we saw the Falcons is imprinted on me. Therefore, I think Atlanta loses their third game in a row.

Next: No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles

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