CINCINNATI — Sam Hubbard scooped up Tyler Huntley's fumble and rumbled 98-yards for the tie-breaking touchdown in the fourth quarter to help Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens 24-17 on Sunday night in the AFC wild-card round.
With the game tied at 17, the Ravens methodically drove down the field to the Bengals 1. On third-and-goal, Huntley attempted to go over the top and stretch the ball across the goal line. But Germaine Pratt stood him up and teammate Logan Wilson punched the ball loose.
Hubbard was there to immediately grab the ball at the 2, and the defensive end took off down the field for the longest fumble return for a touchdown in NFL postseason history. It was also the longest go-ahead score in the fourth quarter in the postseason.
Baltimore would mount one last drive, moving to the Cincinnati 17 in the final minute, but Kevin Zeitler would get flagged for holding and Huntley's final heave would be tipped and nearly caught, but the ball fell to the turf and Paycor Stadium erupted in celebration.
Burrow threw for 209 yards and a touchdown. He also scored on a 1-yard touchdown run during the third quarter to give the Bengals a 17-10 lead.
Baltimore put together another valiant effort despite playing without Lamar Jackson, who has been sidelined with a knee injury. The 2019 MVP did not travel with the team to Cincinnati for Sunday's playoff game.
The Ravens (10-8) managed two offensive touchdowns for the first time since Nov. 27. Huntley passed for 226 yards and two touchdowns, but also had a costly interception that led to a Cincinnati touchdown during the first quarter.
Cincinnati linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither intercepted Huntley on his second passing attempt of his first postseason start.
The Bengals turned the miscue into Burrow’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase early in the second quarter, but a missed the extra point by Evan McPherson made the score 9-0 just four seconds into the second frame.
Cincinnati (13-4) will travel to Orchard Park to face the Buffalo Bills. Their Week 17 game was canceled after Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field. Buffalo advanced with a 34-31 victory over Miami on Sunday.
Baltimore 0 10 7 0 = 17
Cincinnati 3 6 8 7 = 24
First Quarter CIN—Evan McPherson 39 field goal, 8:22. Second Quarter CIN—Ja'Marr Chase 7 pass from Joe Burrow (kick failed), 14:56. BAL—J.K. Dobbins 2 pass from Tyler Huntley (Justin Tucker kick). 4:53. BAL—Justin Tucker 22 field goal, 0:07. Third Quarter CIN—Joe Burrow 1 run (Joe Burrow pass to Tee Higgins), 5:02. BAL—Demarcus Robinson 41 pass from Tyler Huntley (Justin Tucker kick), 2:13. Fourth Quarter CIN—Sam Hubbard 98 fumble return (Evan McPherson kick), 11:39.
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