Throughout most of September, Dallas Cowboys placekicker Brandon Aubrey had been nearly automatic on field goals, giving sports bettors a reliable option to wager on. However, that all changed during last night’s game against the New York Giants, when Aubrey’s rare miss led to an outpouring of frustration from bettors who had placed their hopes—and money—on the Cowboys covering the spread.
With less than a minute left in the game, the Cowboys were leading the Giants 20-15 and faced a fourth down. Dallas opted to send Aubrey out for a 50-yard field goal, a distance he had yet to miss from this season. If successful, the kick would have extended the Cowboys’ lead to 23-15 and allowed them to cover the 5.5-point spread. For bettors, this moment was pivotal, as many had wagered on Dallas to win by at least six points. But in a surprising turn of events, Aubrey’s kick sailed wide right, sealing the Cowboys’ victory but denying them the opportunity to cover the spread.
In the hours following the missed field goal, social media erupted with angry reactions from sports bettors who had counted on the Cowboys covering the spread. Many expressed their outrage at Aubrey for the miss, while others took their frustrations a step further, accusing the NFL of rigging games to benefit Las Vegas odds-makers.
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One user on X (formerly Twitter) vented, “The ‘NFL is Rigged’ crowd gonna go CRAZY with this one. Cowboys were -5.5 favorites. They won by 5 (20-15) thanks to this Brandon Aubrey miss. And I ain’t sayin… but I’m just sayin… that kick looked awfully nonchalant to me. Vegas wins yet AGAIN.”
Another user echoed similar suspicions, tweeting, “Brandon Aubrey got the Vegas call,” suggesting that Las Vegas insiders had influenced the outcome of the kick to prevent the Cowboys from covering the spread. A third user added fuel to the conspiracy theory fire, writing, “This is just screaming Vegas influence.”
The frustration didn’t come out of nowhere. According to Bleacher Report, a significant 80 percent of spread bets were placed on the Cowboys to cover the 5.5-point line. The financial impact of Aubrey’s miss was likely massive, with millions of dollars potentially swinging in favor of sportsbooks due to the failed field goal attempt.
While there’s no concrete evidence to support claims of game manipulation, it’s easy to see why bettors might feel suspicious. The dramatic shift in fortune after a missed kick, especially one from a reliable kicker, has sparked conversations about the influence of betting on the integrity of sports outcomes.
For his part, Aubrey had been dependable all season long, earning praise for his consistency. But as anyone in the NFL knows, even the most reliable kickers can miss under pressure. For Cowboys fans, the win was still a victory, moving the team to 3-0 on the season. However, for the betting public, Aubrey’s missed field goal was a costly mistake—one that will likely be discussed and debated for weeks to come.
The incident highlights the growing tension between the NFL and its betting audience, as gambling becomes more entrenched in the fan experience. With more fans placing money on games, moments like Aubrey’s miss carry more emotional and financial weight.
While it’s natural for bettors to feel disappointed after a loss, the leap to accusing players or leagues of rigging outcomes reflects the high stakes that come with the rise of sports betting.
Whether or not these accusations hold any merit, one thing is clear: Aubrey’s missed field goal will be remembered by bettors as a costly moment in an otherwise routine Cowboys victory.
