The gambling gods giveth, the gambling gods taketh away

If you’ve bet on sports for a century or for just a couple weeks, you have likely run into some bad beats or if you’re on the other side, a perfectly reasonable break in your favor! Week 10 had a few last minute or last second plays that put bettors on tilt.

Browns (-4.5) RB Nick Chubb pulls up on long run

With the wind gusting up to 50 mph, the Cleveland Browns hosted the Houston Texans in a low-scoring affair. With points hard to come by, Browns bettors were feeling good with a 10-0 lead late in the fourth-quarter, but Deshaun Watson and company scored a touchdown with under five minutes left in the game, bringing them within three while covering the 4.5 point spread. But then, on third and three with 1:07 left in the game, Nick Chubb bust around the end to daylight, but instead of going 60 yards for the touchdown, Chubb went 59 yards, stepping out at the one.

It was the right play, as Baker Mayfield then kneeled twice and the Browns had the win, but those backing Cleveland and the points, did not.

Cardinals (-3) kneel instead of going for XP following Hail Mary connection

If you bet on the Cardinals to cover the points against the Bills, things weren’t looking great midway through the third quarter. Josh Allen had just hit Cole Beasley for a 22-yard touchdown to make it a 23-9 game, but Kyler Murray came roaring back. Murray rushed for two touchdowns and led his team to a field goal to take a 26-23 lead into the fourth quarter. But these two quarterbacks weren’t going to end the game in the third quarter, as Allen took his team down on a 12-play, 78 yards scoring drive, ending with a gorgeous touchdown pass and catch to Stefon Diggs to take a 30-26 lead with 34 second left on the clock.

In most realities, that is the end of the game, but Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins weren’t going to go down without a fight and they delivered the knock out blow. You’ve seen it by now, but just in case, it’s worth watching a couple more times here. How Murray got this ball off for 50+ yards in the air and on target and then Hopkins high-pointing that throw with three defenders surrounding him is hard to fathom.

And there was much jubilation! If you got the line at -2 to -3, the extra point would get you a win or a push, but as you came down from the amazing high and watched the Cardinals set up for a kneel down, the realization that you weren’t going to cash hit hard. Instead of risking a blocked extra point and run back for two points and a tie, the Cardinals ran out the clock and kneeled to secure the win. Like Nick Chubb’s decision to not score, this was also the right decision, but still a kick in the gut.