J.R. Sweezy deserves to be in the Bad Beat Hall of Fame

Every NFL Sunday there are players who capture and break hearts across America. BetAmerica’s weekly Heroes and Villains feature will highlight the players who made and lost money for NFL bettors. Let’s take a look at Week 11.

Villain: J.R. Sweezy

Calling the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive lineman a villain does not do it justice. Darth Vader would never betray Arizona bettors so egregiously. Like Lord Voldemort, Sweezy must not be named after committing such a despicable act.

The Cardinals trailed the 49ers by only four points with two seconds remaining, which would have easily covered the 10-point spread. Even though they were almost 80 yards away from the end zone, Arizona tried to get funky. Their attempt to create a miracle ended disastrously, when Sweezy launched a lateral backward, high into the air, which gifted the 49ers a walk-in touchdown. At least it was still just a push for some. God bless the poor souls who got the Cardinals +9.5.

Hero: Tony Pollard

In a game that featured 62 points, the Cowboys (-7) and the Lions’ line ultimately was decided by a pair of two-point conversions. Two field goal makes by Brett Maher gave the Cowboys a six-point advantage entering the fourth quarter. After an Ezekiel Elliot touchdown gave Dallas a 12-point lead, Jason Garrett wisely went for two. Pollard crossed the goal line to put Dallas up 14. When Detroit scored five plays later, their two-point conversion was stopped short, which gave Cowboy bettors a one-point cover. It wasn’t Pollard’s only big play. The rookie running back from Memphis also hauled in a 21-yard touchdown.

Villain: Julian Edelman

Nelson Agholar is the bane of existence for every Philadelphia fan, and rightfully so, after the wide receiver dropped the game-tying touchdown with a minute to play. That anger may be a bit misguided.

Doug Pederson was universally praised for having the courage to call the "Philly Special" in Super Bowl LII. Bill Belichick did not forget. When the Patriots needed a touchdown, they called Julian Edelman’s number to sling it 15 yards for a touchdown, the score that ultimately proved to be the game-winner and also covered the spread by just 2.5 points (New England -4.5).

Hero: Marcus Williams

Of all the close calls in Week 11, the total (51.5) between the Saints and the Bucs was the closest. Over bettors needed Jameis Winston to find a way to score in the fourth quarter to be able to cash a ticket. Relying on Jameis Winston is so stressful, scientists have been able to prove it causes hair loss. You may not be able to rely on Winston to deliver a fourth-quarter touchdown, but you can rely on him to give you a fourth-quarter interception.

This pass with five minutes to play was nowhere near a Tampa Bay Buccaneer and sailed right into Marcus Williams’ numbers. The New Orleans safety sprinted 55 yards down the sideline to score a touchdown. The extra point by Will Lutz was the 52nd point scored, which hit the over by a half-point.

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