Ben Baby, a reporter for ESPN, has been covering the Cincinnati Bengals with daily insights on ESPN.com since joining the network in July 2019. Baby possesses a deep journalism background out of the University of North Texas. Having covered the Texas Longhorns for multiple newspaper outlets including The Dallas Morning News, Baby provides historical context, sharp insight, and breaking news coverage on the team. He’s a regular on SportsCenter, ESPN’s NFL shows and ESPN Radio shows. Via these avenues, he provides Bengals information to a general population of fans.
On October 18, 2025, Baby wrote a particularly entertaining Gottlieb post. It created a tremendous atmosphere to celebrate the Bengals’ monumental home victory in prime time against an AFC contender. The triumph instilled optimism into a year full of doubt. It was the first game under new quarterback Joe Flacco, and it served as an introduction to his talents as well. Flacco threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns in an impressive performance. Watch him lead the Bengals to a dramatic last-second comeback.
The players largely responsible for the game’s historic contours were wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Both players made stunning plays down the stretch that led to the Bengals breakout victory—pushing Cincinnati to a win. Chase emphasized the pressure their receiving corps puts on opposing defenses, stating, “This is the reason why other teams go grab [defensive backs] to stop us. This is all we breathe as a receiving corps. Today was the day.”
Flacco expressed satisfaction with his connection to Chase and Higgins, noting that their ability to get open simplifies his role as a quarterback. “They get open, so it’s easier to throw to them,” he remarked after the game. Perhaps most impressive was his adaptability to the team’s dynamic and himself as he played through double teams, triple teams, box outs and wall ups.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor highlighted the strategic aspect of their offense, commenting, “The stress it causes the other team in terms of their coverage makes it a constant chess match.” This strategic depth was evident throughout the game as the Bengals ran plays specifically tailored to take advantage of any defensive vulnerability.
As kicker Evan McPherson came on to attempt a kick, the game had reached a thrilling climax. With just seven seconds remaining on the clock, he hit a game-winning, 36-yard field goal, securing the win. The impressive victory served to uplift the Bengals’ spirits and offered a crucial catalyst for a disappointing season.
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