Locals in the NFL Playoffs: Kyle Van Noy, Jim Nantz celebrate milestone year in wild card

AROUND THE SHIELD — Kyle Van Noy is 33 years old, but the 11th-year NFL linebacker is proving age is just a number in his second season with the Baltimore Ravens.

The former BYU star tackled Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson on a 2-yard scramble on third-and-6 of the Ravens' 28-14 win over the Steelers in Saturday's AFC wild card game.

Van Noy was mic'd up during the wild card run, with cameras and a live mic catching such quips as the pass rusher noticing his team's run game.

"We have 242 rushing yards; oh my gosh," he said. "242 is crazy."

Starting 13 of the 16 games in which he's played, Van Noy has totaled 41 tackles including 25 solo stops, and a career-high 12.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss.

Sunday's AFC wild card between the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos also marked a career milestone for another former Utah professional: CBS' Jim Nantz called his 500th game for the network in nearly 40 years with CBS Sports.

Nantz is the first person in CBS history with the NFL to work 500 games as a play-by-play broadcaster, according to CBS Sports PR. Pat Summerall did more than 500 games at CBS, but started as an analyst in 1962 before moving to the play-by-play chair during the 1962 season.

"That's a lot of games. It's just staggering," Nantz told the Associated Press of the milestone. "With the historic relationship between the league and CBS that no one else can boast about and to think I have been given the blessing of calling more NFL games play-by-play than anyone in the network's history, it's meaningful and something that resonates for me."

Renowned for his work calling the NFL, NBA, college basketball and the PGA Tour, Nantz began his career in the early 1980s in Houston before taking a job as weekend sports anchor at KSL-TV in 1982. He called several BYU football games during his tenure in the market, and also worked alongside the legendary "Hot Rod" Hundley calling Jazz games before moving to CBS Sports full time in 1985.

To cap the night, former Utah State star linebacker Bobby Wagner had a team-high eight tackles and recovered a fumble that set up the go-ahead touchdown in Washington's 23-20 win over Tampa Bay, the Commanders' first postseason win since 2005.

"I just saw the ball on the ground and had to go get it," Wagner told NBC. "We needed a play, and I just tried to make it."

The nine-time Pro Bowler who is the NFL's active leader in career tackles also gave a shout out to his hometown of Los Angeles as local, regional and national firefighters battled historic wildfires across the county.

Here's a look at how other former Utah high school and college football standouts performed in the AFC and NFC wild-card round.

Monday Night Football

NFC Wild Card

Los Angeles 27, Minnesota 9 (moved to Arizona due to LA wildfires)

Rams (11-7)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting wide receiver caught five passes for 44 yards with a 7-yard rush on offense

Vikings (14-4)

• Taki Taimani, DL, East (via Oregon): Downgraded to OUT (ankle) before Monday night's kickoff
• Max Tooley, LB, BYU/Bountiful: Did not play (practice squad)

Sunday Night Football

Washington 23, Tampa Bay 20

Commanders (13-5)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker posted a team-high eight tackles, shared a sack, and recovered a fumble on defense
• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Inactive for the Wild Card

Buccaneers (10-8)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Did not play (injured reserve)

Sunday afternoon

Philadelphia 22, Green Bay 10

Eagles (15-3)

• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Placed on injured reserve (neck)

Packers (11-7)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 20-of-33 passes for 212 yards with three interceptions and two sacks taken, and ran for 10 yards on two carries on offense
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Inactive for wild-card round
• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve running back had two catches for nine yards on offense, and one tackle on special teams

Buffalo 31, Denver 7

Bills (14-4)

• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting nickel had five tackles on defense
• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Reserve tight end caught three passes for 47 yards on offense
• Cole Bishop, S, Utah: Reserve safety also played on special teams

Broncos (10-7)

• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Started at left tackle
• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker totaled eight tackles
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker left game with injury (shoulder)
• Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah: Reserve receiver was targeted twice on offense
• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Inactive for wild-card round
• Thomas Yassmin, TE, Utah: Did not play (practice squad)

Saturday afternoon

Houston 32, Los Angeles 12

Texans (11-7)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught two passes for 23 yards in 53 offensive snaps
• Kedon Slovis, QB, BYU: Did not play (practice squad)

Chargers (11-7)

• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety had nine tackles, a pass defended and forced a fumble in 73 defensive snaps, made one tackle in five snaps on special teams
• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton (via Stanford): Reserve receiver played five snaps on offense, 17 on special teams

Baltimore 28, Pittsburgh 14

Ravens (13-5)

• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker made one tackle in 32 defensive snaps
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Inactive for Wild Card

Steelers (10-8)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back rushed for six yards on two carries, caught four passes for 19 yards in 25 offensive snaps
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safeties made two tackles in eight defensive snaps, and also played 16 snaps on special teams
• Eric Rowe, S, Utah: Did not play (practice squad)

Related topics