Baltimore Ravens star Michael Pierce admitted his first thought was ‘Oh, s***’ when the 355lb defensive tackle caught his first career interception against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh branded it the ‘The most crazy, amazing play in NFL history’ after Pierce’s big moment in the 35-10 victory.
Pierce has been in the NFL for nine seasons and played a combined eight years of high school and college football as one of the best on his team.
So in 17 years of being scouted by opposing offenses, a quarterback has never thrown him a pass until Baltimore’s regular season finale.
Pierce started his big play on the line of scrimmage and dropped back into pass coverage after the snap.
After the Browns’ downfield targets were covered, Cleveland quarterback Bailey Zappe tried the check-down option in running back Jacob Kibodi. They were not on the same page, throwing the ball right into the hands of Pierce.
Michael Pierce revealed his first thought after catching his first interception on Saturday night
Pierce rarely goes into pass coverage but was in the right place versus the Cleveland Browns
Pierce returns the ball a few yards before kneeling down to end the play and being mobbed by his teammates for the rare accomplishment.
‘I don’t want to curse on TV but, “Oh S-word”. Like, “Oh my God, he really threw this football,”‘ Pierce said of his first thought after getting the interception.
Pierce has recovered a few fumbles in his career, but this was the first time he picked off a pass.
‘There’s a long history of turning big-guy interceptions and fumbles and all that stuff into memes, so at the risk of ruining a career play like that for myself, it’s time to go home,’ Pierce said. ‘The bus was out of gas, we’re good.’
The interception did occur late in the fourth quarter with Baltimore’s win all-but intact.
The victory secured the Ravens the No 3 seed in the AFC playoffs and a Wild Card home game against either the Steelers or Chargers.
‘To have that happen, God is a funny, funny guy,’ Pierce continued. ‘So I’m grateful and I’m glad I caught it more importantly.’
Pierce said his first thought was, ‘Oh, s***’ after catching his first-career interception
‘I don’t want to end up on a meme on Instagram, my wife and everybody laughing at me. So, we did the right thing, we got down and kept it moving.’
Others on Baltimore were happy for Pierce’s first interception.
‘That was the funniest thing I think I’ve ever seen,’ safety Ar’Darius Washington said. ‘That was cool though. It’s amazing to see a big guy like that pick it off and run. All the guys wanted to come off the sideline and celebrate with him.’
Others saw the interception as the perfect note to head into the playoffs for the team.
‘It was awesome. That’s the OG. He comes in every day, goes to work and just grinds. He doesn’t say much. He just goes to work. When he talks, you listen. That’s Big MP,’ fellow Baltimore defensive lineman Broderick Washington said of Pierce.
The win was not all jubilant for Baltimore, with star wide receiver Zay Flowers leaving the game with a knee injury and not returning.
Early indications are that the Ravens’ top wide receiver sprained his knee and his status for a playoff game is uncertain. Knee sprains can take weeks to typically heal.
Pierce began his career with the Ravens, before a two-season stint with the Vikings in 2020 and 2021. He returned to Baltimore in 2022 and has been with the team since.
