I’ve decided to introduce a new feature to TSR called “NFL Gambler Killer of the Week,” where I’ll call out a player or a team for having a hand in screwing bettors. In order to stay objective, I won’t indicate whether or not I personally was affected by the play.
The inaugural NFL Gambler Killer of the Week goes to Seahawks’ quarterback Matt Hasselbeck for his brilliant fourth quarter performance in Seattle’s 31-20 loss to the Cardinals.
Here’s the situation:
The Seahawks were 9-point underdogs heading into Sunday’s game in Arizona and actually jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. But being the gracious people they are, Seattle allowed Arizona to rack up 31 points, including 14 points in the fourth quarter to take a 31-20 lead.
With 5:20 remaining and trailing by 11 (remember, Seattle was getting nine points), the Seahawks took over at their own five-yard line. Hasselbeck then successfully moved the offense to Arizona’s 25-yard line and it appeared that the Seahawks would cut into their deficit with either a field goal or a touchdown and help bettors out in the process.
But being the gracious person he is, Hasselbeck threw into triple coverage on 2nd and 10 and was intercepted by Antrel Rolle.
“Damn!” Mr. Bettor is thinking to himself. “Could have been a nice backdoor cover.”
But then Seattle’s defense gives Mr. Bettor a sliver of hope by forcing Arizona to a three-and-out and giving the offense the ball back with 3:05 remaining. The crafty Hasselbeck once again led the Seahawks into Arizona territory and then down to the Cardinals’ 3-yard line.
“You sweet son of a bitch! You’re going to save me, Matt,” Mr. Bettor screams.
Then, in one of the dumbest decisions of the NFL season, Hasselbeck gets the snap, almost fumbles it, and then tries to shovel it to his running back three feet in front of him. But instead of falling incomplete or into the loving arms of his running back, Adrian Wilson comes out of nowhere and snatches the ball out of the air like the Black Angel of Death he is. (It was actually a great play by Wilson; one of the best of the day.)
“Are you serious?! What were you thinking?! What were you thinking! F-you Matt, you pile of garbage!”
Game over. A field goal in either one of those situations probably would have given bettors a cover, but instead they had to watch as Hasselbeck lost his mind on two separate occasions.
He must have had the Cardinals –9.
