Kyle Van Noy probably should have known better.
The New England Patriots linebacker has clung to opponents’ quotes which he finds offensive. He seems to draw motivation from these affronts. But when he declared the Patriots’ playoff run a “revenge tour,” he provided the Tennessee Titans with the same fuel Van Noy seems to cherish.
At least, former Patriots and current Titans cornerback Logan Ryan insinuated as much after his team’s 20-13 win over New England. Ryan managed the game-sealing pick-six with 47 seconds left.
“My guy Kyle Van Noy calling it a revenge tour. Just play ball, Kyle,” Ryan told reporters after the game. “I’m sure you’re going to see this, but he’s one of the hyenas and he’s on a revenge tour and why not start with the Titans? Tom Brady doesn’t do that, Julian Edelman doesn’t do that, Devin McCourty, (Stephon Gilmore) don’t do that.
“Kyle Van Noy’s running his mouth and giving us bulletin board material about his revenge tour. His revenge tour ended early… Van Noy’s been tripping, and so his revenge tour ended early. Hope he enjoys it.”
Before the game, Van Noy reasoned that Tennessee was a team which New England lost to last year. Hence, the revenge tour.
Extrapolating that idea: if the Patriots won Saturday, they’d face the Kansas City Chiefs, who New England lost to in 2019. Perhaps a win in Kansas City would grant them a second shot at the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC title game. The Ravens also beat New England this year. It would’ve been a nice story.
Would’ve. Could’ve. Should’ve.
Ryan did, indeed, bring a halt to Van Noy’s revenge tour. While Van Noy played well, with five tackles, a quarterback pressure (which helped force a Ryan Tannehill interception) and forced fumble (which Tannehill recovered to retain the ball), his efforts weren’t enough for New England to get a win.
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