The Philadelphia Eagles clinched a 33-26 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday with a dramatic blocked field goal that was returned for a touchdown — a play that proved to be an especially significant one for bettors.
Trailing 27-26, the Rams were lining up for a 44-yard, game-winning field goal with only two seconds left. But Joshua Karty’s kick was blocked by Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis, who found the loose ball and ran it all the way back for a score as time expired.
Had Davis simply fallen on the ball, Philadelphia still would have won the game. Instead, his decision to run it back had huge implications for gamblers.
Los Angeles was 3 1/2-point underdogs against the Eagles. That meant that if the kick was good and the Rams won 29-27, or if it was no good and the Rams lost 27-26, Los Angeles would have covered the spread either way.
But Davis running the ball back for a score meant Philadelphia covered the spread. (Simply put, anybody who bet on the Eagles to cover was thrilled by Davis’ decision while Rams’ bettors were disappointed.)
For good measure, not only did Davis block the kick, seal the win and swing bets on Sunday — he showcased his unique athleticism on the return.
According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Davis reached a top speed of 18.59 miles per hour during his return, the fastest speed for a player over 330 pounds since at least 2017.
