An NFL fan lost a bet of £1.1million as the Los Angeles Chargers capitulated against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL playoffs.
On Saturday in the Wild Card round, Jaguars star quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw four interceptions in the first half of his playoff debut before settling down as he ultimately led Jacksonville to an incredible 31-30 victory. Lawrence threw for 288 yards in total, with four touchdowns to go with his four picks.
The 23-year-old - selected first in the 2021 NFL Draft - was poor to start the game, which was Jacksonville’s first playoff contest since losing the 2017 AFC title game. It meant the Chargers led 27-0 and appeared set for a landslide victory.
One bettor was confident the Chargers would hold on and win the postseason clash which they led so convincingly. Through DraftKings Sportsbook , the bettor reportedly placed $1.4m (£1.1m) on an in-game money line.
As the Chargers led by 27 at the time the fan made the bet, the payout was minimal. All that money was on the line for $11,299 - just 0.8% of the amount wagered.
The bet seemed safe, but you can take nothing for granted in the NFL these days. The bettor simply needed the Chargers - who entered the game as a three and a half-point favourite - to win outright to receive the winnings. Unfortunately for the bettor, the Jaguars battled back in the second half while the Chargers floundered.
In completing their remarkable turnaround, the Jaguars became the first team in the Super Bowl era to win a playoff game with a turnover differential of minus-5 or worse. Teams with that margin had been 0-19 but Lawrence never wavered despite his woeful start.
Lawrence initially struggled to deal with the Chargers defence playing zone coverage while cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. snagged a hat-trick of interceptions on what appeared set to be a playoff debut to remember - but that quickly turned as Lawrence found his rhythm.
Jags head coach Doug Peterson - who led the Jaguars to the AFC South title in his first season - boldly went for two after a penalty against Joey Bosa, and Lawrence converted. This meant the Jags simply needed a field goal to win the game when they got possession back with a few minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Lawrence turned to running back Travis Etienne as the offence drove downfield to set up the win through Riley Patterson’s 36-yard field goal.
The fourth seed in the AFC, the Jags will continue their NFL postseason run when they contest the Division Round next weekend.
