Tyler Huntley had a chance to notch the first playoff win of his career. The former undrafted free agent, starting in place of an injured Lamar Jackson and dealing with a nagging shoulder malady of his own, drove the Baltimore Ravens down to the Cincinnati Bengals’ two-yard line in the fourth quarter of a 17-17 game.
Two more yards and he’d give his team a touchdown lead on the road as an eight-point underdog. Three snaps without a gain and his Ravens would have to settle for three points from automatic kicker Justin Kicker. After a first-and-goal miss and a stuffed run up the middle, Huntley dialed up his own number for a play that ended in a touchdown.
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
Huntley’s effort to extend the ball over the goal line in traffic resulted in an easy swat for linebacker Logan Wilson. The ball popped into defensive end Sam Hubbard’s hands. 98 yards later, a terrific Mark Andrews hustling effort aside, the Bengals had a defensive touchdown and a 24-17 lead.
The play was a brutal mistake from a young quarterback trying to put the team on his back. And in the moments that followed, analysts across Twitter weighed in on his regretful reach.
Huntley would have been in if he had Dhalsim arms, shame
— Peter Berkes (@peterberkes) January 16, 2023
Have to say it's more fun seeing that happen to someone else
— Doc Harper (@doc_harper) January 16, 2023
I think Huntley was trying to do too much there. https://t.co/hcllwTncJr
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) January 16, 2023
Huntley wasn't even close. Can't do that on 3rd down
— Super Bowl 52 MVP (@vj_v_) January 16, 2023
a 6'1", 200 pound QB doing the quick leap on a sneak doesn't really hit the same
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) January 16, 2023
why are you jumping for the goal line when you are over a yard out? how long do you think your arms are? i am dumbfounded.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) January 16, 2023
cant do that on third down, huntley
— Steven Ruiz (@theStevenRuiz) January 16, 2023
Huntley wasnt even close there lmao
— Derrik Klassen (@QBKlass) January 16, 2023
Huntley saw Lawrence do that last night and forgot he’s not 6’6 😭
— Anthony Reinhard (@reinhardNFL) January 16, 2023
that's horrible. It's just terrible. It's so, so bad. Run the ball three times from 1st and goal with EITHER of your very large running backs. Just dreadful, terrible, horrendous.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) January 16, 2023
Huntley going over the top with the football pic.twitter.com/FRkIQKHS3S
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) January 16, 2023
U do that inside the 1 yard line. Huntley was too far out
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) January 16, 2023
