Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy is putting the controversial loss to the Steelers in the rearview mirror, revealing the team’s intense focus is now squarely on Joe Burrow and the Bengals. In a powerful new interview, Van Noy compared Lamar Jackson’s intimidating impact to that of Tom Brady and outlined the ‘dominate your 1/11’ mindset Baltimore is adopting for its playoff push.
In the world of the NFL, a loss to a division rival stings. A loss filled with controversial calls can fester. But for the Baltimore Ravens, there is no time to dwell on what might have been. Veteran linebacker and two-time Super Bowl champion Kyle Van Noy has made it clear: the chapter on the Pittsburgh game is closed, and the singular focus is on the dangerous Cincinnati Bengals.
The loss to the Steelers was a gut punch, marked by several contentious moments, including a play where Travis Jones hit the long snapper, resulting in what Van Noy called “an extra four points.” Yet, he insists the team cannot afford to get bogged down by circumstances outside its control.
“You have to accept it. It happened. It’s over. It is what it is,” Van Noy stated, outlining a philosophy of extreme accountability. “You gotta do everything in your power, and everybody else has to do their 1/11 when they’re out there to not have those calls even come up because you’re playing so well.”
The ‘Dominate Your 1/11’ Philosophy
That mentality—”dominating our 1/11″—has become the Ravens’ rallying cry. Instead of pointing fingers at officiating, the focus has turned inward. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, leaving a game’s outcome to a referee’s whistle is a recipe for failure. The new mandate is simple: play so decisively that bad calls become irrelevant footnotes rather than defining moments.
“The ref says, okay, you get a bad call, line it back up again and dominate your 1/11 job,” Van Noy explained. “And I think that’s kind of the main focus that we came with after a loss like that.”
This disciplined approach will be tested immediately against a Bengals team led by a resurgent Joe Burrow. Cincinnati, despite its record, is playing with the freedom of a spoiler, a dangerous position for any opponent in the tightly contested AFC playoff race, where the official standings are constantly shifting, a fact tracked by sources like the Associated Press.
“We’re gonna get their best shot,” Van Noy warned. “They’re playing on house money… for them it’s like, ‘Oh we get to knock the Ravens out of the playoff race.’ Like that’s a, that’s our playoff game. So for us we gotta do everything we can to stop that from happening.”
Lamar Jackson’s Brady-Like Impact
Having played alongside Tom Brady during his championship runs with the New England Patriots, Van Noy possesses a unique perspective on elite quarterback play. When asked to compare going against Brady in practice to seeing Lamar Jackson every day, he highlighted a shared, intangible quality that defines their greatness.
“He’s one of one,” Van Noy said of Jackson. “They’re totally different quarterback, but have the same impact. They put fear into the other teams… puts that pressure on, like, hey, we better get going because if not, this guy’s coming. That’s the type of quarterback you want to have.”
Van Noy also praised Jackson’s evolution, noting his significant growth as a leader and, crucially, as a passer. He sees a quarterback who has systematically silenced the critics who once suggested he was more of a running back.
“He’s proved all the people that were right, like his mom and himself, by saying, Yes, I am, and I’m gonna show you,” Van Noy said. “And he’s done it year and year and year and year.”
A Leader On and Off the Field
Beyond his on-field intensity, Van Noy’s leadership is also being recognized across the league. His recent nomination for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award is a testament to his character and approach to the game, an honor he doesn’t take lightly.
“I truly believe in just playing the game the right way,” he reflected. “I wanna be a light to young kids out there, like man, you can have it all… You can really do it all if that’s what you really want.”
As the Ravens enter the crucible of the late-season schedule, that blend of fierce competitiveness and veteran poise is exactly what they need. The loss to the Steelers may have been painful, but if it forged a more focused and resilient locker room, it could prove to be the turning point in their championship quest.
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