The decision by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to knee slide at the end of a game against the New York Jets has upset many bettors. The Chiefs were the 7.5-point pre-game favorite against the Jets on Sunday. Several sportsbooks reported it was the most bet-on NFL game over the weekend.
Mahomes would have covered the spread if he went for a touchdown
Towards the end of the fixture, the Chiefs were three points ahead and Mahomes would have covered the spread if he went for a touchdown. Instead, he slid down at the two-yard line rather than just walking into the end zone, which effectively ended the contest:
While some bettors took to social media to express their frustrations, sportsbooks reportedly made plenty of money from the 28-year-old’s decision at the end of the game. The Action Network reported that about 96% of Caesars bettors backed the Chiefs to beat the spread, while about 90% of BetMGM users bet the same.
Some gamblers did manage to take sportsbooks for six-figure sums, with Caesars accepting bets of $350,000 and $240,000 on the Jets +8.5 points. The Chiefs ultimately ran out 23-20 winners in MetLife Stadium.