A Cincinnati native who grew up dreaming of playing for the Bengals, Hubbard is now set to play in a Super Bowl – the Bengals’ first Super Bowl appearance in his lifetime – in just his fourth year in the NFL. Making that even more special, he’s shared the field this year with five of his former Ohio State teammates: Eli Apple, Vonn Bell and Isaiah Prince, as well as Joe Burrow and Keandre Jones, who finished their college careers at LSU and Maryland.
“I can’t say I did,” Hubbard told reporters in Los Angeles. “I had dreams of winning and having success here, because in the past we’ve been pretty down, and just to get a winning season, get in the playoffs is really what I was reaching for. And you just take it week by week and be consistent in your work and detailed in your approach, you can find yourself in this position.”
Just as they were going into the season and as they were entering each of their last two playoff wins against the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs, the Bengals are considered to be underdogs for Sunday’s big game against the Los Angeles Rams, which will be played in the Rams’ home stadium. But Hubbard is confident the Bengals can prove their doubters wrong once again and win their first-ever NFL championship.
While Hubbard has played in plenty of big games before, including two state championship games at Archbishop Moeller High School, three Ohio State-Michigan games, a College Football Playoff game and a Big Ten Championship Game, he says playing in the Super Bowl feels even bigger. And he plans on playing as hard on Sunday as he’s ever played before.
To that end, he’s tried not to spend too much time reflecting on what the Bengals have already accomplished this season, instead keeping his eyes forward on what they still have to do to achieve their ultimate goal – which, for Hubbard and the rest of the Bengals’ defense, means slowing down an explosive Rams offense led by the likes of Matthew Stafford and NFL offensive player of the year Cooper Kupp.
“All this stuff is really cool, it’s great, but it doesn’t matter unless you win the game,” Hubbard said of Super Bowl week. “So all my attention, all my whatever you want to call it, daydreams or thoughts are going into preparation, getting my body right, getting my sleep and putting my best performance on Sunday because you lose the game, this great season we have is kind of forgotten.
Laser focused! WhoDey
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