The Cincinnati Bengals’ offense has been unable to sustain any kind of threat against the blitz-heavy, send-em-all defense of the Minnesota Vikings. But they trailed just 7-3 at halftime in a game with crucial playoff implications thanks to some exceptional efforts from coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense.
Nothing put that on display more than defensive tackle BJ Hill, turning a would-be sack into a drive-killing interception from his own butt. Behold, the confluence and stupid and glorious that is Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens trying to avoid a sack and making things so, so much worse on himself:
Mullens attempted to launch the ball from Hill’s grasp, setting himself up for what would have been, at best, an intentional grounding call with the same exact outcome as taking a sack. But it turns out throwing the ball while getting dumped onto your back is difficult, so he spiked his pass right into Hill’s facemask. A couple bobbles later, and it was Bengals’ ball.
Needless to say, fans and analysts were stunned and amazed by a play equal parts wondrous and mind-numbingly stupid.
B.J. Hill with an incredible, hilarious BIG MAN interception on a Nick Mullens "pass". pic.twitter.com/icCr4IOJJI
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 16, 2023
Lolol Nick Mullens
— Khari Thompson (@kdthompson5) December 16, 2023
somebody throw the ball away
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) December 16, 2023
after all the dobbs discourse, that has to be the funniest way for Mullens to turn the ball over https://t.co/8O5iQeAu7y
— Arif Hasan, but NFL 🏈 (@ArifHasanNFL) December 16, 2023
If the Vikings had an even remotely serviceable option at QB, they’d be dangerous
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) December 16, 2023
Oh, Nick.
— David Fucillo (@davidfucillo) December 16, 2023
That was a sick INT tho lmao
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) December 16, 2023
BJ Hill with a highlight reel interception in back to back games!
ROCK THE BABY.
— Patrick Carey (@PatCareySports) December 16, 2023
No joke, that INT by Nick Mullens is the funniest INT I've ever seen in my life
— Arjun Menon (@arjunmenon100) December 16, 2023
lol what are you doing Mullens. What an awful play.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) December 16, 2023
*pulls pin on AFC North Twitter grenade*
BJ Hill interceptions this year – 2
Minkah Fitzpatrick INTs this year – 0— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) December 16, 2023
Some of the best ballhawks in the NFL
-Xavien Howard
-BJ Hill
-DaRon Bland
-Trevon Diggs— Max Toscano (@maxtoscano1) December 16, 2023
Giant fans watching BJ Hill dominate pic.twitter.com/ZXWATaFMyY
— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) December 16, 2023
B.J. Hill makes one of the wildest big man INTs of the season!
📺: MINvsCIN on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/vtmfEKvOLy pic.twitter.com/qLCtwmwtQP— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2023
No man has a more insane catalog of interceptions than bj hill
— John Sheeran (@John__Sheeran) December 16, 2023