The quarterback’s decision in the final minutes of the game, with Kansas City leading 23-20, stirred anger among fans on social media. Despite being in a favorable position at the opponent’s 11-yard-line during a third-and-eight play, Mahomes, a two-time Super Bowl champion and MVP, chose to slide past the first-down marker but fell short of scoring a touchdown.
This move allowed the Chiefs to run out the clock as the Jets had no timeouts left. Although Kansas City secured a 23-20 victory, Mahomes not scoring meant that they did not cover the eight-point spread. This decision reportedly had significant financial implications, shifting tens of millions of dollars at sportsbooks nationwide, according to ESPN.
Fans expressed their frustration on social media, with some suggesting the game was rigged or influenced by Vegas. The outcome was particularly disheartening for those who had placed parlays. The Chiefs maintained possession for the final 7:24 of the game, covering 51 yards in a seven-play drive. The drive included a crucial third-down conversion aided by a contentious late holding call against Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner. In the end, Mahomes finished the game with 203 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
