Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce officially sealed the game (and AFC North title) for the franchise on Saturday night with a game-clinching interception of Cleveland Browns quarterback Bailey Zappe.
That's right—Pierce, a 6'2", 355-pound tackle—dropped into coverage late in the fourth quarter of the Ragens' 35–10 win and stepped in front of Zappe's pass. From there, Pierce attempted a modified QB slide to give himself up, before heading to the sideline to a swarm of celebrating teammates. As expected, it is Pierce's first career interception in his ninth year in the NFL.
BIG BIG MAN INT! Michael Pierce drops and coverage at 355 pounds and picks it off!
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
📺: #CLEvsBAL on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/sjMZjhmPuu
NFL fans, as expected, went just about as crazy on social media as Pierce's teammates did after he made the interception. Here are some of the best reactions from the game-sealing interception by the big man.
MICHAEL PIERCE SAID HELL NAH 😭😭😭
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) January 5, 2025
That INT by Michael Pierce is going to be played 5,000 times in the Ravens meeting room tomorrow haha.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 5, 2025
That was awesome.
I need ESPN to release the footage of @mspears96 watching that Michael Pierce INT in the studio 😂
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) January 5, 2025
Big Man picks are one of the most beautiful plays in football.
— Bonnie Bernstein (@BonnieBernstein) January 5, 2025
Michael Pierce. Fierce.
All 355 fun-luvin pounds of ‘em. #Ravens pic.twitter.com/8Zh0wlIJGm
most people just got introduced to how large of a human being michael pierce is
— nick ercolano (@nickercolano) January 5, 2025
The Ravens Michael Pierce with the funniest interception of all time 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/xpW7alPqFw
— Andrew Jerell Jones, Luke 1:37 (BlueSky too now) (@sluggahjells) January 5, 2025
#RavensFlock DT Michael Pierce saw an 80 yard sprint and flatly said no…
— Rippe🎯 (@MichaelRippe) January 5, 2025
I respect it 🤣
pic.twitter.com/lXr5iNFnyF
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as NFL World Loved Michael Pierce's Awkward QB Slide Attempt After Game-Sealing Interception.