Patriots’ puzzling last-second gaffe vs. Raiders pays off BIG for lucky gambler

The doomed lateral that lost Sunday’s game for the New England Patriots and led to a shocking Raiders victory in Las Vegas made one better $2.8 million richer.

High-stakes sports gambler Marco Piemonte had hit the first four of a five-game parlay and needed a Raiders win to secure a seven-figure payday.

He was facing some nervous moments at the end of regulation with the game knotted at 24. But instead of overtime, the game came to an abrupt ending when New England’s Jakobi Meyers attempted an ill-advised lateral, which was recovered by former Patriots linebacker Chandler Jones, who returned the ball for a walk-off touchdown.

High-stakes sports gambler Marco Piemonte had hit the first four of a five-game parlay and needed a Raiders win to secure a seven-figure payday. He was facing some nervous moments at the end of regulation with the game knotted at 24. But instead of overtime, the game came to an abrupt ending when New England’s Jakobi Meyers attempted an ill-advised lateral, which was recovered by former Patriots linebacker Chandler Jones, who returned the ball for a walk-off touchdown

Jones, the younger brother of UFC star Jon, wasn’t the only one celebrating in Las Vegas. Aside from the roughly 62,000 in attendance, Piemonte and his friends also appeared to lose all control as the Patriots suffered a 30-24 defeat.

‘Go, go, go, go, go, go!’ Piemonte and his friends could be heard screaming in a video that’s been posted on Instagram.

There was a nervous moment when Piemonte thought there was a flag on the play, but once he was told ‘it’s over,’ he responded by jumping on a table, flexing, and screaming as hard as he possibly could.

Known as ‘Million Dollar Marco’ for his high-stakes bets, Piemonte previously made headlines in 2021 for winning $1 million by betting $33,000 on a four-team parlay.

Piemonte is also an auto dealer, with locations in Illinois.

Known as ‘Million Dollar Marco’ for his high-stakes bets, Piemonte previously made headlines in 2021 for winning $1 million by betting $33,000 on a four-team parlay. Later he won $1.4 million on a five-team parlay earlier in the season 

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson #38 of the New England Patriots pitches the ball back to wide receiver Jakobi Meyers in the final moments of Sunday’s game in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones (55) breaks a tackle by New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) to score a touchdown at the end of Sunday’s game 

Jones crosses into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown on Sunday in Las Vegas

The game’s bizarre ending already ranks among the NFL’s most infamous moments.

Jones grabbed a bizarre, unnecessary lateral by Meyers out of the air on the final play and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown.

With the game tied at 24-all, the Patriots decided to run a series of pitches in a last-ditch attempt to avoid overtime. Rhamondre Stevenson pitched the ball to Meyers, who heaved it across the field and into the arms of Jones, who stiff-armed Patriots QB Mac Jones and then had nothing but open field in front of him.

The wild finish bailed out the Raiders (6-8), who led 17-3 at halftime before allowing the Patriots (7-7) to score 21 straight points. Las Vegas scored two touchdowns in the final 32 seconds and seriously damaged New England’s playoff hopes.

‘We talk about situational football,’ Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. ‘We talk about it every week, but we obviously have to do a better job playing situational football and not making critical mistakes.’

Chandler Jones #55 and Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrate after defeating the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium