The rise in sports gambling across the country has led to many watching games through a completely different lens. And what the Las Vegas Raiders did at the end of their game against the Denver Broncos threw many bettors into an absolute frenzy.
The Raiders were 8.5-point underdogs against the Broncos and trailed by 10 with just seconds remaining in the game. Time likely would have run out after a Kenny Pickett completion to Tyler Lockett, but a defensive delay of game penalty stopped the clock. Head coach Pete Carroll chose to kick a field goal with no time remaining, leading to the Raiders losing by only seven and covering the spread, much to the anger of many who bet on the Broncos.
Among them was Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who took to social media and had an absolute meltdown, calling for the Raiders, Carroll and the NFL as a whole to be investigated:
PRISON FOR EVERYBODY!! THAT’S THE BIGGEST RIG JOB IVE EVER SEEN. INVESTIGATE THE NFL. INVESTIGATE PETE CARROLL. IVESTIGATE THE RAIDERS!!! pic.twitter.com/hpEr1JOiqm
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) December 7, 2025
This is an overreaction, to say the least, though Portnoy is known for his outlandish responses to things. Even still, it is fair to question why Carroll chose to kick the field goal, knowing there was no chance for the Raiders to potentially recover an onside kick and miraculously come back and win the game. Even when considering moral victories, there wasn’t one to gain from kicking a field goal.
It should also be noted, however, that had the Broncos not committed the defensive penalty, this would have been avoided, as time would not have stopped. Lockett was tackled in bounds, and the clock was ticking, so the Raiders may have had the time to run one more play, and the chances of them scoring were slim. So while Carroll and the Raiders will get plenty of hate from Portnoy and others, the Broncos played a role in this outcome as well.
Regardless, it was yet another loss for the Raiders, their seventh straight as they now find themselves at the bottom of the NFL record-wise in Carroll’s first season at the helm.
Raiders QB Geno Smith not thinking about future amidst a rough season
Raiders quarterback Geno Smith has had a rough go of things this season, and it only got worse against the Broncos as he left the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. However, even before the contest, Smith made it clear that he isn’t thinking about his future with the franchise, despite his struggles.
