Fans stunned as Chiefs take intentional safety and cover 9.5 spread vs. Texans - "This needs to be investigated," "NFL is rigged"

Betting fans are unhappy with how the Chiefs' Divisional Round game against the Texans ended. Kansas City won 24-13 at home and now will play in their seventh-straight AFC Championship as they seek a Super Bowl three-peat. With the score 23-12, Andy Reid instructed his punter to take an intentional safety to gift the Texans two points.

It reduced the deficit from 11 points to 9 points, and the Chiefs were 9.5 favorites in the betting markets to win the game. It immediately brought out accusations of the NFL rigging results to avoid paying out.

Fans took to X/Twitter to air their grievances with some saying that an investigation is warranted. It did not help that Troy Aikman and Joe Buck, who were in the broadcast booth for the game, also noted that point. Here are some of the reactions from the social media platform.

Observers continued to express skepticism that this could have been anything other than scripted. Here are some more posts.

"The intentional safety by the Chiefs covers the spread...Millions of dollars vanishing because of a game ending intentional safety. Wow" - said one.

"Chiefs had a -9.5 point spread... They were up 11 points but because Matt Araiza got a safety they won by 9 points... Maybe the referees are on their side" - wondered another.

"If Joe Buck knows the spread, this is all bullshit. ESPN knows and said it on air." - noted a third.

"THERE IS NO WAY THAT JUST HAPPENED TO CHIEFS SPREAD BETTORS" - added a fourth.

"Can’t rig a spread better than this. Chiefs -9.5 falls because of an intentional safety. Chiefs only win by 9" - fumed another.

"Chiefs are GOATED for taking that unnecessary safety so the Texans could cover the spread" - joked someone else.

Chiefs' intentional safety against Texans makes perfect game sense

While the betting market was understandably ruffled, football fans understood why Andy Reid made that decision. With just over 10 seconds remaining and it being a fourth down, they could not take a kneel down to run out the clock. If they had punted it, they would have given the ball back to the Texans, who could have scored within that time and tried an onside kick following that to snatch a win with their last two plays of the game.

As improbable as it was, running out at the back of the endzone took up precious time and it also gave Kansas City the kickoff, which allowed them to get more distance than they might have got from the punt. It made sense from the head coach's point of view and he will not care beyond the fact that they get to host the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead next week.