The Bengals defense was looking for a key stop to be able to turn their fortunes in what was a 17-17 game heading into the fourth quarter with Baltimore knocking on the doorstep to the take the lead. Tyler Huntley and the Ravens offense were able to drive all the way down the field and set up shop deep into Cincinnati terrority.
Cincinnati would end up flipping the script as Huntley fumbled as he tried to cross the goal line, but the ball was punched out by Logan Wilson. The ball would fall into the hands of Sam Hubbard and he would take it the distance for a 98-yard fumble return that gave the Bengals a 24-17 lead with 11:39 left to go. Cincinnati would end up holding on by a thread as they will advance to the Divisional Round to take on the Buffalo Bills next weekend.
It was a momentum-shifting play that was needed for Cincinnati’s defense that had just given up a 41-yard touchdown to Demarcus Robinson on the prior offensive possession. The Bengals winning percentage shifted from 46% to 86% after the 98-yard touchdown by Hubbard. Fans around the NFL voiced their thoughts on social media about the game-changing play that lifted Cincinnati into the Divisional Round.
First, the highlight:
Sam Hubbard takes the fumble 98 yards for the TD ‼️
📺: #BALvsCIN on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/hNJJJGqxGF pic.twitter.com/PoVImXrfpz— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2023
Hubbard gave Bengals fans a breath of fresh air after the go ahead score:
Big man gotta eat, big man gotta breathe. Sam Hubbard runs back the go ahead TD. pic.twitter.com/VVdRdCUkBA
— Sam Greene (@SGdoesit) January 16, 2023
Sam Hubbard deserves the game ball after saving the Bengals season:
@Bengals Give @Sam_Hubbard_ the game ball his TD was not only historic it was a game changer @Bengals_Nation
— RegFer00 (@RegFer00) January 16, 2023
Hubbard etches his name in the history books:
Sam Hubbard made NFL history with the longest fumble return TD in post season history
I just need to let it sink in.
— Christineee (@christineee4646) January 16, 2023
Head coach Zac Taylor speaks on how big of a play it was:
“That’s why you never give up on a drive. … That was a 14-point swing.” – #Bengals coach Zac Taylor on Logan Wilson’s forced fumble + the 98-yard return for a TD by Sam Hubbard
— Laurel Pfahler (@LaurelPfahler) January 16, 2023
Hometown Hero runs it all the way:
Who'd have thought the Bengals would beat the hated Baltimore Ravens, 24-17, on an unbelievable 98-yard fumble return TD by home-grown product Sam Hubbard of Cincinnati Moeller High School and The Ohio State University?
— Chick Ludwig (@ChickLudwig) January 16, 2023
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