Video: Pittsburgh Steelers’ Terence Garvin breaks jaw of Bengals punter Kevin Huber with crushing block
By Matt Gajtka
Dec 15, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Terence Garvin(57) tackles Cincinnati Bengals punter
Kevin Huber(10) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati Bengals punter Kevin Huber cost his team seven points early in Sunday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, dropping a snap and eventually getting tackled inside his own 1-yard line. Pittsburgh took a 7-0 lead two plays later on Le’Veon Bell‘s short scoring run.
Huber’s second awful moment occurred soon after, as his punt was returned 67 yards by Antonio Brown for a touchdown and a 21-0 Steelers lead late in the first quarter. While the result was bad for the Bengals, the process was even worse for Huber, as Pittsburgh’s Terence Garvin caught him with a devastating block under his chin, knocking Huber hard to the turf.
GIF courtesy of @GIFdSports
Huber suffered a bloodied mouth and was helped off the field following Brown’s score. A broken jaw was the immediate diagnosis, forcing Bengals placekicker Mike Nugent into punting duties for the rest of the night, while Cincinnati starting quarterback Andy Dalton took over as holder on all kicks from scrimmage.
Garvin’s block was ruled legal on the field, although the NFL will probably take a look later this week to determine if any supplemental discipline is necessary. Garvin made initial contact with Huber in the neck area, but there appeared to be some helmet-to-helmet contact on the follow-through.
The Steelers carried a 27-7 lead into halftime at Heinz Field, appearing to be on their way to keeping the AFC North-leading Bengals from collecting their 10th win.