NFL Week 17 Predictions 2021: Best Upset Picks, Straight Up Winners Include Broncos, Panthers, Ravens

A few teams are significant underdogs in Week 17, despite having beaten their upcoming opponent earlier in the 2021 NFL season. Every favorite has better than -160 betting odds to win their next game.

Here are the best upset picks for Week 17. Moneyline odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook.

Denver Broncos (+215) at Los Angeles Chargers

The Broncos beat the Chargers 28-13 just five weeks ago. Los Angeles has gone 2-2 since that matchup, and the team is at risk of losing another game to its AFC West rival.

The Chargers have underachieved after a hot start to the season, going 4-6 in their last 10 games. L.A. has been favored seven times since Week 8 and lost outright on four of those occasions. Los Angeles’ problems stem from a defense that has given up the second-most points in the NFL. The Chargers have allowed 11 straight opponents to score at least 21 points, and eight of those teams have scored 27 points or more.

Denver’s defense has given up no more than 17 points to opposing offenses in eight of the last nine games. Broncos quarterback Drew Lock is 3-1 against the Chargers.

Carolina Panthers (+250) at New Orleans Saints

The Panthers beat the Saints 26-7 all the way back in Week 2. While Carolina’s season has fallen apart over the last two months, New Orleans hasn’t been much better.

The Saints were blown out by the Panthers when Jameis Winston was still under center. Since New Orleans’ starting quarterback suffered a season-ending injury, the Saints have gone 2-6. Taysom Hill and his 61.7 passer rating are likely to get the start for New Orleans after missing a week with COVID-19. Hill threw four interceptions in his first start, and the Saints failed to score a touchdown in his third and most recent start.

Carolina ranks second in opponents' yards per play and total defense. Now that Sam Darnold is back, the Panthers have a quarterback who is looking to make a statement.

Baltimore Ravens (+162) vs. Los Angeles Rams

Even though these two teams are headed in opposite directions, Baltimore has a real chance to beat Los Angeles. The Ravens’ four-game losing streak could easily feature three wins, and the Rams had plenty of question marks before their current four-game winning streak.

Baltimore lost three games by a total of five points from Week 13 to 15. The Ravens had little chance to beat the Bengals in Week 16 when they were forced to start journeyman Josh Johnson at quarterback. Lamar Jackson is expected to be back under center, and for all of his struggles, he’s still the best quarterback in this game. Jackson is 7-5 this season with impressive victories over the Chiefs, Colts and Vikings. Jackson was nearly perfect in a 45-6 win over L.A. two seasons ago.

Matthew Stafford has thrown multiple interceptions in three of the last seven games. The Rams are 3-5 against teams that enter Week 17 with a winning record.