A rather lackluster Thursday Night Football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers got week three of the NFL season started. In terms of the game, it was about as exciting as a Jacoby Brissett and Mitch Trubisky quarterback battle could be, just blah. The Browns won 29-17, and from the outside this game was relatively uneventful.
The betting aspect and all that happened late in this game is where the fun starts. A great thing with betting is that even if the actual game feels determined, so much can still happen.
Everyone loves a good bad beat, and this Thursday provided us with some heartbreaking sequences.
The Under:
With the over/under set at 37.5, this was the lowest total going into week three. A game that was projected to not have many points, entered the fourth quarter at 30. A Nick Chubb touchdown with 9:33 left in the fourth quarter brought the total to 37. It also put the Browns up 23-14 (significant to many on both sides). Over bettors were telling themselves we just need one more score. Under bettors were convincing themselves this would be the final score.
The next four drives became a punt fest bleeding the clock down to 3:13.
The story resumes with Steelers quarterback Mitchell Trubisky on 1st & 10 on the Steelers 20 yard line. Pittsburgh quickly entered Browns territory after a gain of 15 and 26 yards both caught by tight end Pat Freiermuth. With a 3rd & 5 on the Browns 21 yard line, Mitch tosses a pass to the end zone to Dionte Johnson that falls incomplete. A late flag comes out and the call looks like it is going to be pass interference against the Browns Denzel Ward. Pass interference is called, but with a Steelers illegal shift, they were offsetting penalties. Under bettors were still sweating, but not putting the Steelers on the one yard line certainly helps.
Please don’t kick it coach:
After an incomplete pass on third down, it set up 4th & 5. Down nine with 1:50 left, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin opted to send out the kicking unit. A too many men penalty on the Browns made it 4th & 1 now. Tomlin still didn’t budge, and sent the kicking unit out with under bettors screaming at their tv’s. Many would think to try to go for the touchdown and kick the extra point to cut it to two. For the under, best case would have been the Steelers turnover on downs and this game is effectively finished.
Goodnight, Under:
Steelers kicker Chris Boswell trotted out onto the field, and unfortunately for under bettors, it was time to call it a night.
Chris Boswell makes it a one score game #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/ZklHQmFueM
— Pro Football Culture (@proftblculture) September 23, 2022
Chase Claypool receiving yards:
With the under now dead, the bad beats were only getting started.
After the Boswell field goal, the Browns went three and out, punting on the Steelers 37 yard line. Browns punter Corey Bojorquez hit a perfect punt to pin the Steelers at their own four yard line with 15 seconds left.
Entering what was likely to be the last play or two, Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool had 41 receiving yards for the game. Claypools O/U sat at 36.5 before the game. Over his total by four yards, Claypool over bettors were and should have been extremely confident that they had a winning ticket. The only thing that could change that was if something ridiculously stupid happened.
Boy were they in for a treat.
Steelers quarterback Mitchell Trubisky finds Diontae Johnson wide open, who then flips it to Chase Claypool. To the horror of Claypool over bettors, he would ruin a lot of peoples nights in the next few seconds.
If you know anyone who bet Chase Claypool receiving yards over last night… Give them a hug today 😅
Claypool yards:
Before this play: 41
After this play: 35
O/U: 35.5Pain.
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/MVoZWKrS5e
— br_betting (@br_betting) September 23, 2022
The Fanduel Pat Mcafee Super Boost:
Back in December 2021, Pat McAfee signed an elusive deal to parter with Fanduel. This would sign McAfee on to do several promotional things for Fanduel, while also trying to make it more fun for users.
McAfee and Fanduel have come up with tons of odds boosts since his signing, calling it the “PMI Super Boost”. Often taking odds of something and increasing the odds in favor of the customer. An hypothetical example would be Nick Chubb is -125 to score a touchdown and that gets boosted to +200. A low risk, high floor bet, with the limit being $50 for most.
This is what McAfee and Fanduel cooked up for the public before the week three Thursday Night game between the Browns and Steelers:
🏈 𝗣𝗔𝗧'𝗦 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗦𝗧 🏈
▪️ Steelers to cover +7.5
▪️ Najee Harris to score 1+ TDs
▪️ Nick Chubb to score 1+ TDsWas: +550
Now: +800 🔺➡️ https://t.co/boOY3bT479 | @PatMcAfeeShow pic.twitter.com/McFBpeqdcJ
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) September 22, 2022
Boosted from +550 to +800, a mere $25 bet could win $200. The likely max of $50 would net $400. With the odds boosted , Fanduel was sure to get hundreds of thousands of dollars wagered on it.
Step 1: Najee Harris touchdown (Steelers)
Najee Harris was able to complete the first part of the boost with his touchdown to start the second quarter:
That’s 6️⃣ for @ohthatsNajee22. @steelers even the score, 7-7.#PITvsCLE on Prime Video
Also available on NFL+ https://t.co/uF4okqrMww pic.twitter.com/Rk7jqKOpHJ— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2022
Step 2: Nick Chubb touchdown (Browns)
Step 2 took a little longer to complete, but Nick Chubb punched in his touchdown with 9:30 left in the fourth quarter:
Feed @NickChubb. @Browns extend the lead, 23-14, with 9:29 to go.#PITvsCLE on Prime Video
Also available on NFL+ https://t.co/uF4okqrMww pic.twitter.com/jiKXqkBze7— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2022
The Browns now up by nine with 9:30 left, all that was left was the Steelers covering +7.5.
After the touchdown, the teams proceeded to combine for four straight punts. The Steelers found themselves down nine on 4th & 1 on the Browns 17 yard line with 1:57 left. Instead of pushing for a touchdown and a possible turnover on downs, to the excitement of the Fanduel boost bettors, the Steelers kicked a field goal. Making it a six point game, all the Browns had to do was get a first down and this one would be over.
On 3rd & 1 with 36 seconds left, Nick Chubb rushed for what looked to be a first down to end the game. Called for review, it was determined Chubb was short of the line to gain. This instead brought up fourth down. The Browns elected to punt, and the rest is history with what ensued on the Steelers final play of the game.
.@Browns score on the final play of the game! pic.twitter.com/ZGoGTzrv7c
— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2022
With the odds boosted all the way up to +800, that fumble touchdown saved Fanduel potentially millions. One mans heartbreak is often another mans fortune which is what we saw here with the general public vs Fanduel.
Fanduel does right by customers:
With all boost bettors still in agony as the sun rose, Fanduel decided to show their gratitude to the Steelers by giving customers a free bet refund. It’s not often, but sometimes these bad beat stories do have a somewhat nice ending.
Well, that didn't go as planned…
After that insane finish on #TNF, we've decided to refund all customers who backed @PatMcAfeeShow's Super Boost tonight 💰
(Refunds will be credited as free bets over the next 24 hours) pic.twitter.com/C2N3bI8wgx
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) September 23, 2022
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