At some point the Cincinnati Bengals will deserve some kind of “Bad Beats” award for the sheer number of times they’ve shown up in this column. Once again, the Bengals managed lose somebody some serious money in the worst possible way.
We only had three games to choose from for this week’s Bad Beats, so we’re going to talk about all of them. Here or your Worst Bad Beats from Week 8.
Cincinnati Bengals 37, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34
Spread: Bengals: -3.5
Let’s set the stage for this financial disaster. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston was handing the game to the Bengals and giving his own team every reason to just cut him on Monday. Cincinnati led 27-9 at halftime and, after Winston served up a pick six in the third quarter, 34-16. If you placed your cash on the Bengals, you were feeling pretty good.
Related: NFL Betting Guide | Opening Odds
That is until Ryan Fitzpatrick trotted out onto the field. A few weeks ago Fitzmagic got all Fitztragic and head coach Dirk Koetter sent the former Harvard quarterback back to the bullpen. Down 18 points, it was time to tap the old elbow as you walk out to the mound and hear Fitzy charge past the chalk to the tune of Wild Thing by X.
Folks Ryan Fitzpatrick is ALIVE WITH PLEASURE
— Drew Magary (@drewmagary) October 28, 2018
Fitzpatrick reeled off 18 unanswered points and before you could wipe the Skyline Chili off your chin, the game was tied 34-34 with 1:05 to go after an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end O.J. Howard. If you bet on the Bengals, even if Andy Dalton could put together a game-winning scoring drive (which he did), your money was already flushed down the toilet.
Los Angeles Rams 29, Green Bay Packers 27
Spread: Rams -9
Here’s the thing about this one; I told you not to bet on the Rams. I picked Los Angeles to win and they did, but there was no way I was laying nine points against Aaron Rodgers coming off a bye. That’s just insane. In his career coming into this game, Rodgers was 7-2 after the off week.
Here’s why it was a Bad Beat if you bet on the Rams; Todd Gurley killed you. The Rams had taken over, up two, after linebacker Ramik Wilson forced a fumble on a Green Bay kickoff return. L.A. took over at the Packers’ 21 yard line with 1:50 to go with the goal of just running out the clock. If you bet on the Rams, you were already counting your losses right there.
“Man, forget fantasy and forget Vegas today. We got the win so that’s all that matters.”
Let 'em know, @TG3II! pic.twitter.com/TidDPxDAHe
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 29, 2018
Only, suddenly there was hope as you were moping through your defeat. On a third and 10, Gurley shot through the Green Bay defense for 17 yards and, on any other day, would have dove into the end zone for six. An extra point put the score right at Rams 36, Packers 17 aka NINE POINTS. Only Gurley didn’t dive into the end zone. He geared down and basically took a knee at the four to keep the clock running, murdering you right as he’d given you life.
Kansas City Chiefs 30, Denver Broncos 23
Spread: Chiefs -9.5
Finally, we have one of the most predictable and downright laziest Bad Beats of the year and if you laid money on Kansas City, you probably saw this one coming a mile away with no way to stop it. The Chiefs got up 30-14 heading into the fourth quarter and there was no way they weren’t just shutting operations down at the point. The game was won.
Case Keenum has now been intercepted in all 8 games this season, the only full-season starting QB in the @NFL with that dubious distinction.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) October 28, 2018
When the game is lost, when there’s no hope for victory, that is when Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum truly shines. Keenum authored one touchdown drive and then a field goal with 1:48 left that cut Kansas City’s lead to seven and sent your betting slips to the shredder.
