Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard made one of the wildest playoff plays onlookers will ever see during his team’s wild card encounter with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens were on the goal line about to score from a few yards out in a 17-17 game in the fourth quarter when Hubbard caught a deflected ball and ran it back 98 yards for a touchdown to give his team the 24-17 lead.
As ESPN Stats & Info pointed out, that made history:
“The previous longest fumble return in the playoffs was 93 yards by Andy Russell in the 1975 Divisional Round against the Baltimore Colts- so the city of Baltimore has been on the wrong side of the two longest fumble returns in NFL postseason history.”
A look at the reactions to the historic play by Hubbard and the Bengals.
The previous longest fumble return in the playoffs was 93 yards by Andy Russell in the 1975 Divisional Round against the Baltimore Colts- so the city of Baltimore has been on the wrong side of the two longest fumble returns in NFL postseason history.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 16, 2023
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 traveled 123.6 yards on his 98-yd fumble return TD, the most distance traveled by a ball carrier on a TD this season.
The @Bengals win probability increased by 42% as a result of the play (from 46% → 88%).#BALvsCIN | Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/LPm8vSNM42
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 16, 2023
Sam Hubbard re-wrote the NFL record book with one play. That 98-yard score was:
• Longest fumble return TD in NFL playoff history
• Longest TD in Bengals playoff history
• Longest go-ahead TD in 4th quarter in playoff history
• T-4th-longest defensive TD in playoff history— John Breech (@johnbreech) January 16, 2023
An all-time Bengals moment.
When the Bengals were on the brink of disaster, Logan Wilson punches the ball out, and Sam Hubbard runs it for a 100-yard touchdown.
Season saving stuff.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) January 16, 2023
Exactly what this team needed. Sam Hubbard 98 yard touchdown. Unbelievable.
— Blake Jewell (@BlakeJewellNFL) January 16, 2023
Sam Hubbard with an oxygen mask on the bench after that TD play
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) January 16, 2023
SAM HUBBARD IS THE MAN!!!!!
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 16, 2023
Sam Hubbard about the 35 yard line pic.twitter.com/1W3M3Zf4k3
— Andrew Russell (@Andrew_Russell7) January 16, 2023
Sam Hubbard YOU GORGEOUS MAN
— Christineee (@christineee4646) January 16, 2023
Sam Hubbard with a 98 yard fumble return TD- longest in postseason history. 💀💀💀
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) January 16, 2023
Sam Hubbard still catching his breath. #Bengals pic.twitter.com/T6XFvkbO9F
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) January 16, 2023
My goodness that couldn't have landed more perfectly in Sam Hubbard's hands https://t.co/bktGGa0SU3
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) January 16, 2023
THAT WAS AMAZING @Sam_Hubbard_
OMFG
— 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 (@BengalsCaptain) January 16, 2023
Get Sam Hubbard some oxygen.
He can have mine I don’t need it.
— Andrew Russell (@Andrew_Russell7) January 16, 2023
I volunteer first in line to buy Sam Hubbard a beer
— obscure bengals (@obscure_bengals) January 16, 2023
Sam Hubbard loves Cincinnati and Cincinnati loves Sam Hubbard
A 99-yard fumble return for a touchdown? You can't draw this up.
— Mohammad Ahmad (@MohammadAhmadTV) January 16, 2023
Give Sam Hubbard the key to Cincinnati.
— Patrick Carey (@PatCareySports) January 16, 2023
On behalf of all #Bears fans who care about draft capital to the last minute detail, thank you, Sam Hubbard.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) January 16, 2023
SAM HUBBARD! pic.twitter.com/GbqHr2cXSo
— Bengal Jim’s BTR (@bengaljims_BTR) January 16, 2023
Sam Hubbard reached a max speed of 17.43 mph on that 98 yard score, per @NextGenStats
Mark Andrews almost caught him, reaching 20.72 mph before being knocked down
— Kevin Patra (@kpatra) January 16, 2023
SAM HUBBARD 98-YARD FUMBLE RETURN TD DOTS pic.twitter.com/pyGIiKOp4M
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) January 16, 2023
Sam Hubbard is 6-foot-5, 265. Does that count as a THICC-SIX? I need a ruling. @mikegolicjr
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 16, 2023
