A meaningless Riley Patterson 48-yard FG gave the Jaguars the backdoor cover after all

After a dream second season for Trevor Lawrence — who played his butt off on Saturday — the Jacksonville Jaguars ultimately fell short of their AFC title game dreams. For the fifth straight year, it will be the special Patrick Mahomes, difficult ankle injury and all, and the Kansas City Chiefs playing for a right to the Super Bowl.

But as the saying goes, even with the Jaguars’ 27-20 defeat to the Chiefs — good teams win, and great teams cover. While trying to mount an unlikely comeback very late in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars elected to take the points on a stalled possession, hoping an ensuing onside kick would get them the ball back (they would not recover).

And when kicker Riley Patterson successfully launched a 48-yard attempt through the uprights, the Jaguars did the impossible — they got the backdoor cover on the pre-game spread:

The Jaguars (+8.5) cover the spread with 25 seconds left in the game 🤑pic.twitter.com/l4734yZWAy

— SportsBettingDime (@SBD) January 22, 2023

I know it’s no consolation for watching your season end short of the biggest goal in pro football … but at least bettors could see Jacksonville — at the last second — match pre-game expectations. Not all was lost!

Bettors loved seeing the Jaguars get the backdoor cover on Patterson's last-minute field goal

Riley Patterson with a VERY significant kick 👀

Jaguars +9.5 get the backdoor cover ✅pic.twitter.com/YOHLAXp8pP

— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) January 22, 2023

JAGS +9.5 BACKDOOR COVER!!!!!! Let’s gooooooo @TheVolumeSports pic.twitter.com/McifZdsuTg

— Alex Monaco (@Alex__Monaco) January 22, 2023

I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a field goal for a backdoor cover.

Riley Patterson is the savior of Jaguars +9.5. pic.twitter.com/KjFYula7z0

— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) January 22, 2023

Jaguars backdoor cover pic.twitter.com/vt2q4aeqMU

— John Ewing 🦁 (@johnewing) January 22, 2023

Good teams win.

Great teams backdoor cover. pic.twitter.com/1sfG3132ep

— Mandy Lopez™ (@2EP0L) January 22, 2023

Backdoor cover for Jacksonville.

— Bonta Hill (@BontaHill) January 22, 2023

As beautiful of a Backdoor Cover you will ever see.

— Devine Sports Gospel (@DevineGospel) January 22, 2023

The backdoor cover is such a beautiful thing 🙏 https://t.co/pdi22whgW9

— Heybets (@playheybets) January 22, 2023