The Denver Broncos secured a straightforward 24-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, December 7, 2025, but the final, seemingly meaningless play of the game ignited a firestorm in the sports betting community, with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy labeling it the “worst bad beat of all time.” The controversy erupted after the Raiders kicked a 46 yard field goal as time expired, cutting the final margin of victory from 10 points to just seven, a move that only affected the betting line and left thousands of bettors who had backed the Broncos stunned.

The immediate impact of the final seconds sequence was a massive financial swing that hinged on a technicality. The vast majority of bettors had backed the Denver Broncos who were favored by 7.5 points (some books had the line at 8.5). With the Broncos leading 24-14 with only seconds left and the Raiders on the Denver 33 yard line, the clock was expected to expire, giving Broncos bettors the win. However, a Broncos defender was flagged for a Defensive Delay of Game penalty for laying on Raiders receiver Tyler Lockett too long after a tackle, which, crucially, stopped the clock. With five seconds left and down by ten points, Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson was rushed onto the field and drilled the 46 yard field goal, ensuring the Raiders covered the spread at the last possible moment.

The reaction and strategic importance of the kick were immediate and vociferous, led by high profile bettors like Dave Portnoy, who took to social media to express his outrage. Portnoy posted a viral rant, suggesting the final sequence was a "rig job" designed solely to impact the betting line, even though there is no evidence to support such a claim. For the Raiders, who were essentially out of time to tie or win the game, the decision to kick the field goal was logically explained by coach Pete Carroll as an opportunity to get one more live rep for the kicker and the special teams unit in a high pressure, although consequence free, situation. However, the timing and the bizarre penalty that preceded it fueled the conspiracy theories and secured its status as an all time bad beat.

Looking ahead, the future outlook of the controversy will likely continue to simmer in betting circles, serving as a cautionary tale about the unpredictable nature of NFL gambling. For the Denver Broncos (11-2), the win extends their streak to ten games, firmly placing them at the top of the AFC West, despite coach Sean Payton describing the late penalty as "not real smart." For the Raiders (2-11), the late field goal salvaged nothing but a slightly less embarrassing final score, yet it cemented the Broncos vs Raiders contest as a perennial example of how a statistically meaningless play can hold immense significance in the world of sports wagering.