Achieving success in the NFL is about far more than physical skills. The mental aspect is crucial, which Kyle Van Noy showed on Sunday afternoon with a savvy play.
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The veteran Baltimore Ravens defender intercepted a pass from Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow at the 5-yard line. He then turned and started running toward the sideline. However, Van Noy turned as he reached the 15-yard line and held out the ball to safety Alohi Gilman.
The Ravens defensive back took the handoff and raced untouched for the touchdown to give his team a 23-0 lead. An extra point made the score 24-0. This score remained as the Ravens scored a division win.
Kyle Van Noy picks off Joe Burrow and hands the ball off to Alohi Gilman for a 95-yard pick-six! 🤯🏈
Spero Dedes on the call for CBS 🎙️pic.twitter.com/Wx63Hvmx6E
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 14, 2025
The stat sheet will show that this was a 95-yard interception return, but it will also show two different players playing important roles. According to the play-by-play, Van Noy intercepted the pass and ran for 11 yards. Gilman then ran for an 84-yard return touchdown.
Why would Van Noy hand the ball off after posting his fourth career interception? It wasn't like he was in immediate danger of being tackled.
The simple reason is the speed difference. The linebacker is 34 years old and nearing the end of his 12th NFL season. He has a lot of miles on his legs going back to his days with the Lions, Patriots, Dolphins, and Chargers.
Gilman, for comparison, is only 28 years old. He is in his sixth NFL season, which includes five full seasons with the Chargers. He also plays safety, so he is faster than Van Noy on paper.
Ultimately, it would not have mattered if the veteran linebacker kept the football and failed to reach the end zone. This Ravens defense kept the Bengals in check while intercepting two of Burrow's passes and keeping the offense scoreless.
Still, the two-time Super Bowl champion showed his veteran smarts with this decision to hand off the football and keep a scoring play alive. He also provided an opportunity for his young teammate to celebrate a special moment.
