Seattle Seahawks kicker Sebastian Janikowski suffered a thigh injury on a missed 57-yard field goal to end the first half in Saturday night’s playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys, and was unable to return to the game.
Sebastian Janikowski looked in pain after his long FG attempt. pic.twitter.com/gSAmUgiTXC
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) January 6, 2019
This left the Seahawks with punter Michael Dickson as their kicker, and they chose to work around that by just going for two following two touchdowns in the second half. Seattle succeeded in both two-point attempts, with the last one coming with 1:18 remaining.
That made the score 24-22, which would serve as the final score. Well, that score was significant for the betting community, as the Cowboys were favored by 2.5 points. Had Janikowski been healthy, the Seahawks would’ve just kicked the extra point there to get within three, but his injury forced this two-point attempt.
The touchdown also got the OVER (43 points) to hit.
Here’s some Twitter reaction to the betting impact of Seattle’s eight points late:
A potential all-time backdoor cover here as #Seahawks (+2.5) score TD + 2-pt to go down 24-22.
Game goes OVER total of 43. WOW
— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) January 6, 2019
One of the all time great back door covers, based solely on kicker injury.
— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@ASchatzNFL) January 6, 2019
How's that for a back door cover?
— Odds Shark (@OddsShark) January 6, 2019
That was the most beautiful backdoor cover of the year.
— Michael Jenkins (@JenksDC) January 6, 2019
THE GREATEST COVER EVER!!!!!!!!
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 6, 2019
Greatest backdoor cover in playoff history or the worst bad beat. Whichever way you wanna look at it #Seahawks #Cowboys
— Shanel Pratap (@shanelpratap) January 6, 2019
SEA +2.5, never in doubt.
— Travis Reed (@BetLabsTravis) January 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/suellentrop/status/1081768372713504768
[Fox]