January 16, 2023 - BY Admin

Stunning fumble return TD for Bengals beats Ravens, keeps Cincinnati's postseason alive

Logan Wilson must have anticipated the traditional "leap and stretch the ball past the goal line" move. On quarterback sneaks, we've seen it numerous times, but seldom has it been defensed as successfully as Wilson did on Sunday night.


When Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley was ready to cross the goal line in the fourth quarter of a tie AFC wild-card game, Wilson, a Cincinnati Bengals linebacker, reached up. Wilson fumbled the ball, and defensive end Sam Hubbard returned it 98 yards for a score. There aren't many plays that can flip a playoff game so quickly.


Ravens take a halftime lead

Like plenty of other playoff games on wild-card weekend, the start of Sunday night's game was misleading. The Bengals got a field goal to start it. Then Ja'Marr Chase scored a 7-yard touchdown and even though the Bengals missed the extra point, they led 9-0.


The Ravens were underdogs because their quarterback situation has been a mess without Jackson. They trailed early. The Bengals have been playing very well. It seemed like the game might get out of hand early.


Then the Ravens got tough. They went on a 17-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a touchdown. Then rookie safety Kyle Hamilton forced a fumble that the Ravens recovered and they cashed that in with a field goal at the end of the first half.


Huge play turns the game

The Ravens continued to battle. The offense, which has been awful without Jackson, was doing enough to scare Cincinnati. Huntley hit Demarcus Robinson for a 41-yard touchdown to tie the game in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter the Ravens were at the 1-yard line with a chance to take a lead.


The Ravens lined up in a formation that has become familiar, thanks mostly to the Philadelphia Eagles and Jalen Hurts. Baltimore had multiple players behind Huntley, ready to push him in on a quarterback sneak. Huntley, perhaps seeing an opening over the pile, jumped up and stretched out the ball. That's when the Ravens' upset bid ended. Wilson made a great play and Hubbard beat everyone down the field to the end zone.