For the second consecutive week, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was on the wrong end of an interception return for a touchdown you just don’t see very often, if ever.
After Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford returned a batted pass 63 yards for a touchdown in a win over the Bengals in Week 14, Baltimore Ravens edge rusher Kyle Van Noy one-upped that in a 24-0 shutout win over the Bengals in Week 15.
With 7:38 left in the fourth quarter, Van Noy intercepted Burrow at his own 5 yard line and returned the ball to the 16 yard line, where he turned and handed the ball to safety Alohi Gilman, who sprinted the next 84 yards untouched for the touchdown and a 24-0 lead.
The win evened the Ravens’ record at 7-7 overall, snapped a 2-game losing streak and kept their playoff hopes alive. The Bengals dropped to 4-10 with the loss after defeating the Ravens in Week 13.
“Work smarter, not harder,” SportsCenter wrote on its official X account. “Kyle Van Noy picked it off, then handed it to the faster Alohi Gilman, who took it to the house!”
NFL Fans Praise Van Noy’s Next Level Football IQ
NFL fans were blown away by Van Noy’s football IQ to even know to make the play to hand the ball back to Gilman.
“Kyle Van Noy with possibly the smartest pick-six in football history,” Cam Powell wrote on X.
“Wow,” The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov wrote on X. “Joe Burrow is picked off by Kyle Van Noy, who then hands it off to Alohi Gilman — and he goes 95 yards for a Ravens TD. Second straight week with a pick-6 for Burrow.”
” ‘Here take this Pick 6’ – Kyle Van Noy,” Barstool Sports wrote on X.
“KYLE VAN NOY SAID NAH AND HANDED IT TO ALOHI GILMAN!!!!” British Ravens superfan Nic Mason wrote on X. “PICK SIX!!!!!!!”
Van Noy still gets credit for the touchdown, going into the official box score as an 11-yard touchdown return.
“Kyle Van Noy with an all-time IQ play on the pick-6!” Underdog NFL wrote on its official X account.
“Love the unselfishness of Kyle Van Noy,” Fox Sports host Chris Broussard wrote on X. “The Relay that Resulted in a Ravens Revival?”
“Kyle Van Noy with the 10000 IQ play,” The Exit 52 Podcast wrote on X. “Night night Bengals!”
“I wasn’t surprised at all,” Gilman said. “Shout out to Kyle Van Noy. Great player. Great play. I was actually shouting at him to pitch the ball.”
Win Could Trigger Playoff Run for Ravens
The Ravens seemed dead in the water following the losses to the Bengals and Steelers but a win like the one over the Bengals may have breathed new life into their season.
If Baltimore does want to make the playoffs, they will have to overcome the toughest 3-game stretch on their schedule to do so as they face 3 consecutive playoff teams and all at home. The Ravens play the New England Patriots (Week 16), Green Bay Packers (Week 17) and Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 18) in the regular season finale in what could become the de facto AFC North Championship Game.
Ravens Humiliate Bengals QB Joe Burrow With ‘All Time IQ’ Defensive TD