NFL Week 3 Bad Beats: Vikings Out-Chargered

Kirk Cousins Throws it All Away

We can write all sorts of articles on the ending of the Vikings-Chargers game. To start, Cousins lost the Vikings the game, lost their backers’ both the moneyline and spread and sunk “over” bettors on the total. And he did it with one ill-advised throw.

Talk about a bad beat for backers who bet online as Cousins was actually having himself a solid game. He had 367 passing yards and three touchdowns as he went toe-to-toe with the Chargers QB Justin Herbert. Chargers fans likely had resigned to that final play going against them, considering their franchise’s penchant for bad luck.

But, no, ma’am! Cousins’ pass to tight end T.J. Hockenson got picked off as Minnesota fell short and the Chargers picked up the improbable win. Minnesota lost and the total went under by a point.

The @Chargers secure the W with a goal line interception! #LACvsMIN pic.twitter.com/NPDc5LZBpJ

— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2023

Packers Cause More Bad Beats

The Green Bay Packers are back after choking away a lead last week for its contribution to “bad beats.” This time, Green Bay was on the other end of the comeback as it erased a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat New Orleans 18-17.

Not so fast, though. Only those who took the Packers on the moneyline would have cashed in the sportsbook. Spread bettors would have still fallen short.

The Packers closed as 1½-point favorites prior to the game per the online NFL betting odds. That means that Green Bay’s riveting comeback still fell short by a point. Pain! Everyone who bet Green Bay -1½ joined the Saints bettors as they wept for the terrible beat.

Both Saints fans and backers already endured an excruciating game. Their quarterback, Derek Carr, got injured. Jameis Winston was able to lead the Saints to within field goal range in the final three minutes. But kicker Blake Grupe missed the potential game-winning field goal as New Orleans became “Heartbreak City” yet again.

Un-Bear-able Result for Mahomes Props Bettors

Bad beats in this 2023 NFL football season are not limited to point spreads or totals. Props bettors got the short end of the stick in many cases. The most notable one would be the Kansas City Chiefs-Chicago Bears game as the former opened a Kodiak-sized can of whoop-butt on the latter.

Kansas City scored 41 unanswered points all the way to the third quarter against the Bears. Patrick Mahomes was unstoppable as he shredded Chicago’s defense to the tune of 272 yards and three touchdowns. That was it as head coach Andy Reid yanked Mahomes in favor of Blaine Gabbert, who proceeded to throw two picks.

Everyone on KC’s moneyline and spread had some of the NFL’s best bets. Even those who bet on the total to go over cashed thanks to Kansas City letting Chicago get 10 unnecessary points in the fourth quarter. But those who bet on Mahomes to go over 274.5 yards would have been screaming.

Over to another AFC West team, the Las Vegas Raiders stuffed Pittsburgh’s Jaylen Warren on the final carry to lose two yards. That brought Warren’s yards from scrimmage to 54 to 52. A few bettors had Warren at over 53.5 rushing and receiving yards. Oof.