Bears Defender Runs Wrong Way During Patriots Touchdown

Sports betting has become a massive part of how fans experience games these days. Unfortunately, that growth brings questions about game integrity right into the spotlight. Craig Carton from OutKick addressed this exact issue on Friday's edition of "The Craig Carton Show." He used a specific play from Thursday night as his example.

The Chicago Bears played the New England Patriots in that matchup. Late in the first half, something strange happened at midfield. Patriots running back Rhamondre Stephenson caught a screen pass and somehow ran all the way to the end zone for a touchdown with no time left on the clock. The real story is what Bears defender Malik Muhammad did during that same play. It was his actions that had Carton asking serious questions.

RHAMONDRE STEVENSON'S MIRACULOUS 48-YARD TOUCHDOWN STUNS BEARS AS CLOCK EXPIRES IN FIRST HALF Did... did Muhammad turn and run in the complete opposite direction that Stephenson was headed? Well, it is at least worth asking some questions.

Carton pointed out that every person against legalized wagering believes the fix is in when they see this kind of thing. "What Malik Muhammad does next is why every single person that is against legalized wagering thinks the fix is in," he said. Instead of stepping into the hole to tackle Stephenson, Muhammad literally ran away from the play.

Whether it was a bad read or something else entirely, there is really no question: that was about as big a whiff as you will see in the NFL. Fortunately, that specific play did not change the outcome because the Bears won and covered the spread. Carton noted the play likely got more attention simply because it happened on a Thursday night. He insisted the NFL needs to ask some questions immediately.

"And that's the type of play that needs to be investigated," he said. The league now has to sit down and interview Malik Muhammad and Ben Johnson of the Bears to get an explanation as to why Muhammad was running away from the ball carrier? It makes no sense at all. There is not even a logical, reasonable explanation like "Well, I was going this way because I thought he might cut outside."

No, there was no chance to cut outside because by you coming this way, you opened up a seven-yard gap.