What Were the Biggest NFL Upsets in 2021?

With no Thursday Night Football set for Week 17 of the NFL, it means that the league is done for the 2021 calendar year. The next games we'll witness will be on January 2nd of the new year. How exciting!

Before we turn the calendar over, let's take a look at the top upsets in the NFL in 2021. These will likely be fresh in your memory, as none of the upsets that occurred in the playoffs last season, which took place in 2021, qualified for the list.

All odds listed below are via WynnBET Sportsbook.

Top NFL Upsets in 2021

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (+14.5) vs. Buffalo Bills - Week 9

This game hasn't been talked about nearly enough. Easily the most shocking upset of the season, both from a betting standpoint and from a general football standpoint. The Jaguars defense, which currently ranks 27th in the NFL in scoring, allowing an average of 26.4 per game, somehow kept the powerhouse Bills offense to only six points when they met in Week 9.

This upset may seem even crazier in the future. The Jaguars currently hold the number one pick in the NFL Draft, while the Bills will enter the playoffs as serious contenders. There's a very real possibility that the worst team in the NFL has a win over the Super Bowl champions in the same season. Has that ever happened before in the NFL?

Shoutout Urban Meyer. One of his only two wins in his NFL career as head coach came in a 9-6 victory over one of the best teams in the NFL.

T2. Detroit Lions (+13) vs. Arizona Cardinals - Week 15

The house of card(inal)s came crashing down in Week 15 when the one-win Detroit Lions upset the Arizona Cardinals as a 13-point underdog. Not only did the Lions win, but it wasn't even close. The final score was 30-12, and Arizona didn't find the endzone until the dying moments of the game.

The Cardinals will still be in the postseason, but this loss is a bad sign for a team that's ended 2021 on a three-game losing streak.

T2. Houston Texans (+13) vs. Los Angeles Chargers - Week 16

The most recent of all upsets. The Chargers were in the driver's seat for a playoff in the AFC, and the Texans looked like they had all but given up on the season. It's not like the Chargers offense couldn't score on the Texans, they put up 29 points!

It was the Chargers defense who couldn't handle the likes of Davis Mills and Rex Burkhead. The rookie quarterback threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns, and the former Patriots running back ran for 149 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. That's an average of 6.8 yards per rush. Yikes.

4. New York Jets (+11.5) vs. Cincinnati Bengals - Week 8

I'll always remember the Mike White game. The Jets got their second win of the season in Week 8 against a Bengals team, and it was largely due to the stellar play of backup quarterback Mike White.

White completed 37-of-45 passes for 405 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. A completely wild performance from a no-name QB who came out of nowhere. He wasn't able to repeat the performance in following starts, but he'll always have this regular season game against the Bengals to look back fondly on.

T5. Broncos (+10) vs. Cowboys - Week 9

The Cowboys were rolling heading into Week 9, having won six-straight games after giving the defending champions a run for their money on opening night. People thought that Dallas would torch the average Broncos, but that's not how it went.

The Broncos stout defense kept Dak Prescott and the Cowboys' receivers in check all game, and Teddy Bridgewater did enough on offense to seal the victory. It served as a true wake up call for the Cowboys.

T5. Houston Texans (+10) vs. Tennessee Titans - Week 11

The Tennessee Titans were the No. 1 seed in the AFC and people started crowning them Super Bowl contenders. Like usual, when a team starts getting showered with praise, they stumble. That's what happened when they faced AFC South opponent, the Houston Texans, in Week 11.

The two teams played in a torrential downpour, but the game was sealed when Ryan Tannehill threw four interceptions. That loss may come back to haunt a Titans team that is aiming for an AFC South title in the final two weeks of the season.