DraftKings bettors thought they had a free money opportunity centered around Justin Herbert for Monday Night Football.
Ahead of the AFC West matchup between Herbert’s Los Angeles Chargers and the Denver Broncos, DraftKings boosted Herbert to throw just one touchdown from -800 to +100. It seemed like free money.
But during the 16-13 OT win over the Broncos, the lone LA touchdown came on a six-yard touchdown run from Austin Ekeler in the first quarter.
After the promotion officially didn’t hit, DraftKings bettors everywhere flocked to social media to voice their frustrations and share conspiracy theories.
The way Draft Kings finessed everybody with that Herbert TD boost is crazy. All he had to do was throw 1 TD. He's only had 0 TDs one time in his entire career, back in 2020. He throws 0 tonight. You'll never convince me this shit not rigged.
— Eric Ray (@EricRayweather) October 18, 2022
DraftKings after Justin Herbert doesn’t throw for 1 TD
— Jalen Hurts is MVP (@DaddyEmbiid21) October 18, 2022
DraftKings runs a huge promotion for Herbert to throw just 1 TD…shockingly for only the second time in his career he doesn’t throw 1 TD…it’s genuinely crazy how these sportbooks know
— Brandon Wildman (@brandon_wildman) October 18, 2022
DraftKings after Herbert doesn’t throw a single touchdown pass pic.twitter.com/J7UDPCkJAT
— Full Slate Podcast (@Full_Slate_Pod) October 18, 2022
100% deleting DraftKings app. No way Justin Herbert throws a TD 30 games in a row then the one game he doesn’t DraftKings offers a boost -800 to +100. Hope that you guys sleep happy tonight.
— CaptainRook (@RookCaptain) October 18, 2022
Justin Herbert Hahha is a fucking joke, whole world is on his DraftKings boost and he can’t throw a touchdown shits fucking rigged
— Chase (@SeRoXUM) October 18, 2022
Prior to Monday night, Herbert had thrown at least a touchdown in 36 of his 37 starts in the NFL. He has also thrown for a touchdown in 26 consecutive NFL starts. To make the whole situation even crazier, the Chargers were actually putting the ball in Herbert’s hands more than usual on Monday night. He finished the win by completing 37 of 57 passes for 238 yards and an interception.
Even with bettors fully confused as to how Herbert could fail to throw for just one touchdown, there was reason to believe that the star quarterback would struggle against the Broncos’ defense. The Broncos had allowed just one passing touchdown since Week 2 and only three all season.
While bettors were crying for a refund, they’re going to have to live with the fact that they lost a wager trying to take advantage of a good opportunity.
For Herbert and the Chargers, they’ll gladly take the win despite failing to record one touchdown in the passing game. They’re now tied with the Kansas City Chiefs for first place in the AFC West at 4-2.
