Sam Hubbard showed off that speed from his lacrosse days.
The fifth-year Bengals defensive end raced 98 yards for the longest fumble recovery touchdown in NFL playoff history Sunday night after scooping up a fumble by Ravens QB Tyler Huntley early in the fourth quarter. Huntley tried to leap over the pile to score a touchdown but had the ball knocked out by linebacker Logan Wilson.
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The scoop-and-score not only prevented a Ravens go-ahead touchdown, it also gave Cincinnati a 24-17 lead with 11:39 left in the game. Cincinnati won by that score.
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According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Hubbard ran 123.6 yards on the return as he evaded a late tackle attempt by tight end Mark Andrews to get to the end zone.
Where does Hubbard’s return rank among the longest plays in NFL playoff history? Here’s what you need to know.
Hubbard’s play was the longest fumble return touchdown in NFL playoff history and tied for the 11th-longest play in postseason history, according to Pro Football Reference. Among non-kick returns, it is tied for the fifth-longest.
Player
Play type
Yards
Team
Opponent
Date
Jacoby Jones
Kick return
108
Baltimore Ravens
San Francisco 49ers
Feb. 3, 2013
Knile Davis
Kick return
106
Kansas City Chiefs
Houston Texans
Jan. 9, 2016
Trindon Holliday
Kick return
104
Denver Broncos
Baltimore Ravens
Jan. 12, 2013
Eric Weems
Kick return
102
Atlanta Falcons
Green Bay Packers
Jan. 15, 2011
Taron Johnson
INT return
101
Buffalo Bills
Baltimore Ravens
Jan. 16, 2021
George Teague
INT return
101
Green Bay Packers
Detroit Lions
Jan. 8, 1994
Brian Mitchell
Kick return
100
Washington Redskins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jan. 15, 2000
James Harrison
INT return
100
Pittsburgh Steelers
Arizona Cardinals
Feb. 1, 2009
Champ Bailey
INT return
100
Denver Broncos
New England Patriots
Jan. 14, 2006
Desmond Howard
Kick return
99
Green Bay Packers
New England Patriots
Jan. 26, 1997
Dion Lewis
Kick return
98
New England Patriots
Houston Texans
Jan. 14, 2017
Andre Coleman
Kick return
98
San Diego Chargers
San Francisco 49ers
Jan. 29, 1995
Fulton Walker
Kick return
98
Miami Dolphins
Washington Redskins
Jan. 30, 1983
Darrol Ray
INT return
98
New York Jets
Cincinnati Bengals
Jan. 9, 1983
Sam Hubbard
Fumble return
98
Cincinnati Bengals
Baltimore Ravens
Jan. 15, 2023
This is the second time a long defensive play has cost the Ravens in major way in the playoffs. Against the Bills in the AFC divisional round on Jan. 16, 2021, Lamar Jackson marched Baltimore to the Bills’ 9-yard line before heaving a pass into the end zone for Mark Andrews. Taron Johnson picked off the pass and returned it 101 yards for a touchdown, tying for the fifth-longest play in NFL playoff history and the longest defensive play in NFL playoff history.
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But the Ravens also have the longest play in NFL playoff history in their favor. In Super Bowl 47, Jacoby Jones returned the second-half kickoff 108 yards against the 49ers to give John Harbaugh’s squad a 28-6 lead over the 49ers, coached by his brother Jim Harbaugh.
The longest offensive play in NFL playoff history happened well shy of the top special teams and defensive plays. And, like the top special teams play, it, too, came from the Ravens. In the 2001 AFC championship game, Ravens quarterback Trent Dilfer connected with Shannon Sharpe for a 96-yard touchdown pass to give Baltimore an early lead vs. the Raiders.
