The impact of missed field goals and game changing or deciding kicks is shown by the emotional reaction of NFL fans. The financial impact in the sports betting market is felt by bettors and sports books.
Cody Parkey of the Chicago Bears after missing a field goal attempt in the final moments of a 16-15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC wild-card game on January 6. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) Getty
The NFL playoff pressure rises to another level, and nowhere is the tension greater than on the field goal kicker with the game on the line.
The wild card weekend provided further evidence the impact of a single kick, or no kick, can have on fans, players, coaches and bettors. When the Chicago Bears kicker missed a last-second field goal in a 16-15 playoff loss to the Eagles, it sent shockwaves across social media.
Upright. Crossbar. Out. pic.twitter.com/nWtpr4LyGB
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 7,2019
The emotional reactions are everywhere, and the outpouring on social media has fans both frustrated and delighted.
Which face were you after that missed field goal? #PHIvsCHI pic.twitter.com/Mltov1Oj6Z
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 7,2019
It was similar three years ago when the Vikings kicker missed a chip-shot field goal in the closing seconds of a 10-9 loss to the Seahawks in a freezing sub-zero wild card playoff game.
In the wagering world of sports, the NFL is king. The playoffs bring even more wagering activity, and bigger bets. Proposition or prop bets also drive wagering interests and will likely result in greater betting activity and another record handle on this year’s Super Bowl.
In the NFL wild card round this past weekend, all four underdogs covered the point spread (4-0 ATS). Two games had wagering results impacted by kicks, or non-kicks in the closing seconds. Underdogs have now covered 10 straight playoff games dating back to last season including the Eagles Super Bowl victory. Philadelphia won all three playoff games as an underdog during last year’s playoffs, and their win at Chicago yesterday had a major impact on the betting market.
Philadelphia at Chicago (-6.5) — Total 41.5
The Bears closed a 6.
