As the dust settles on the 2020 NFL season, it’s time to look back and reflect. Sure, there were great plays, moments, and all that, but why not talk about all the pain us bettors suffered along the way? That’s what we are all here for, right?
There were many candidates for Bad Beats of the Year that we narrowed down through a vigorous process. Without further ado, here are our finalists for the toughest beats of the year.
Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns (-3) - Week 10
Wind and lightning turned this into a slugfest in Cleveland. Scoring was at a premium, but the Browns were in front for a majority of this game. The line had danced on Sunday morning between Cleveland -3 and -3.5, which was important as the game was winding down and Browns bettors were begging for Nick Chubb to rip one off on the final drive of the game.
The Texans had used their final timeout and the Browns needed a first down to seal the victory. On third down, the Georgia product took off down the field. With no one chasing him, it seemed that he was going to jog into the end zone and wrap up a beautiful backdoor cover...but then Chubb veered out of bounds at the goal line.
Chubb stepped out at the one-yard line so Cleveland could run out the clock in victory formation, exciting Cleveland fans, but bringing a boatload of pain to Cleveland bettors.
Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles (+6.5) - Week 12
The hot seat was burning up for Carson Wentz and coach Doug Pederson at this point in the season, but the 3-6-1 Eagles were still in the mix for the disastrous NFC East title. The Seahawks came into Philadelphia and convincingly beat the Eagles on this Monday night, another disappointing loss for the Birds.
However, the Eagles managed to hang within two possessions in the final minutes, striking distance for a cover. Down 14, Wentz heaved the ball to the end zone, and after being knocked around, landed in Richard Rodgers hands. All of a sudden it's an eight-point game.
The always aggressive Pederson had his team line up for the two-point conversion in hopes that the Eagles could recover the onside kick and score again in the final seconds.
Of course, Seattle was only concerned with recovering the ensuing kick off, and didn’t put up much resistance on the two-point conversion, getting the Eagles inside the number.
The Seahawks recovered the onside and ran out the clock on a 23-17 victory.
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns (-3.5) - Week 7
In a back-and-forth game, including three touchdowns in the final five minutes, the last scoring chance of the game held a lot of financial importance. Not the touchdown, but the extra point.
The Browns opened at -3 in this contest, reached as high as -4, and closed at -3.5 against the Bengals.
Baker Mayfield fired a touchdown to Donovan Peoples-Jones in the corner of the end zone to take the lead in the final seconds, with an extra point to put Browns bettors inside the number.
Cody Parkey, of Chicago Bears double doink field goal attempt in the 2018 postseason fame, missed the extra point, though, leaving Cleveland up by three with a minute left.
Here’s the awesome game winning touchdown...we couldn't grab video of the missed PAT, though. It may be better if you don’t see.
Los Angeles Chargers (+4.5) at Buffalo Bills - Week 12
The Chargers made a habit of losing in painful fashion despite having Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert, and week 12 was the crowning achievement. LA trailed 24-6 in the second half, but had the ball down 10 in the final minute with a chance to sneak inside the closing spread of +4.5.
Faced with a 4th-and-27, Herbert aired it out and completed a pass to Tyler Johnson for 55 yards, all the way down to the Bills two yard line. The Chargers, like only they could, finally got a play off after more than 30 seconds ran off the clock, which was strangely a running play. Tick, tick, tick.
Despite being down at the two yard line and more than 30 seconds left -- which included a stoppage due to a Bills penalty -- the Chargers were unable to get into the end zone. After another botched rush attempt, the clock ran out on a potential beautiful back-door cover.
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans (+3.5) - Week 13
Trailing by six and under two minutes to play, Deshaun Watson and the Texans were facing a goal-to-go situation to take the lead. With Watson at quarterback, Texans bettors felt safe. A score and an extra point would give them an one point lead.
Even if there was time left, the Colts would likely only get in position to kick a game winning field goal and a cover would be safe.
But that’s if things go right.
On second-and-goal from the two yard line, Watson fumbled the snap, which was recovered by the Colts, who ran the clock out.
Just brutal.
Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints (42.5) - Week 14
Jalen Hurts made his first career start for the Eagles against the NFC South leading Saints in week 14. Philadelphia was a seven-and-a-half point underdog but shocked New Orleans, controlling the game throughout.
With the score 24-14, the Saints lined up for a 57 yard field goal with two minutes left in the game. Will Lutz missed, giving the Eagles the ball and a chance to run the clock out.
However, on second down, Hurts fumbled it and the Saints recovered, forcing under bettors, who had started counting their money to have second thoughts.
At their own 49, the Saints proceeded to score in 12 seconds off of two deep passes, sending the game over 42.5.
I don’t think people who bet the under were as happy for Hurts as they would’ve been if he ran the clock out.
Cleveland Browns (+3) at Baltimore Ravens - Week 14
This was one of the games of the year, and, in my humble opinion, the worst beat of 2020.
The AFC North battle had it all. It had a come from behind effort from the Browns, sparked by a Lamar Jackson cramp in the fourth quarter. Jackson would return to lead the Ravens to victory.
The Baltimore quarterback came back in from the locker room with two minutes remaining and the Ravens facing a fourth down, down by one. On that play, he tossed the go ahead 44-yard touchdown.
With 1:51 on the clock, the Browns drove down the field and scored, tying the game, with just over a minute left.
Baltimore answered with their own drive, ending in a Justin Tucker field goal attempt to go up three. With 33 points scored in the quarter, Cleveland backers seemed content with a push, but two seconds remained on the clock.
The Browns offense tried a few laterals that ended up going into the end zone, that led in to a safety. No time left. Baltimore by five.
I'd like to think the (limited) crowd raising its volume during the play were people begging for no safety and a Ravens cover.
I hope Cleveland backers enjoyed a nice jog after that one.
Reed is a native of New Jersey and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a die-hard Brooklyn Nets fan and always believes the spread has a chance of covering. You can follow Reed on Twitter @ReedWallach for more commentary.