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There have been many grand celebrations in NFL history. The Sharpie, the cell phone, the Icky Shuffle, and the Dirty Bird all come to mind. But what’s better than a great, choreographed team celebration? In Week 9, we got epic dueling defensive celebrations as the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings both busted out incredible numbers. Now, the question is, who did it better?

The Cincinnati Bengals team snow angel celebration

The Cincinnati Bengals had a lot to celebrate about in Week 9. After getting romped 32-12 in Week 8 vs. the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football, the Bengals recovered in Week 9.

The Bengals beat the Carolina Panthers convincingly, 42-21, with running back Joe Mixon putting up a stellar 153 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

All the Mixon touchdown celebrations were fun, but the Bengals defense got the fans talking with their group celebration following an interception. Up 21-0 in the second quarter, linebacker Germaine Pratt picked off Panthers QB P.J. Walker.   

After the pick, the whole Bengals defense (and then some) ran 50 yards to the opposite end zone and dropped to the ground to do faux snow angels.

It was a fun celebration in a blowout of a game. However, it may not have been the best defensive interception celebration of the day.

The Minnesota Vikings bowling celebration

Not to be outdone, the Minnesota Vikings got into the group celebration mix as well.

This one didn’t happen in a blowout. The Vikings barely squeaked by in a game against the Washington Commanders on the road to take a tight 20-17 win.

The play in question here happened when the Vikings were down 17-10 with eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter. On a 2nd-and-11, Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke dropped back and overthrew his receiver downfield.

Vikings safety Harrison Smith made the pick, then returned the ball to the 12-yard line. That’s when the Vikings defense (and then some) lined up like 16 bowling pins. Smith bowled the ball, knocking 15 of the “pins” down immediately before the final pin, linebacker Jordan Hicks, wobbled and fell, too.

Kirk Cousins hit Dalvin Cook on a 12-yard TD two plays later, the defense forced a punt on the next Commanders’ drive, and Minnesota kicked a field goal with 12-seconds left to win the game.

The interception bowling celebration was a fantastic celebration, but the Vikings are lucky they won the game. That wouldn’t have played as well in a loss.

Did the Vikings or Bengals do it better?

Bengals Vikings celebrations
(L-R) Bengals, Vikings celebrate interceptions | Dylan Buell/Getty Images; Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

So, there it is. Two defenses. Two interceptions. And two incredible, choreographed celebrations.

Does the Vikings’ bowling celebration beat the Bengals simple snow angels? Does the fact that the Bengals did it in a blowout make it better or worse than the Vikings doing it down a touchdown?

Let us know in the comments below!

Have thoughts on this topic? Keep the conversation rolling in our comments section below.

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Tim Crean

Tim Crean started writing about sports in 2016 and joined Sportscasting in 2021. He excels with his versatile coverage of the NFL and soccer landscape, as well as his expertise breaking down sports media, which stems from his many years downloading podcasts before they were even cool and countless hours spent listening to Mike & The Mad Dog and The Dan Patrick Show, among other programs.

As a longtime self-professed sports junkie who even played DII lacrosse at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, Tim loves reading about all the latest sports news every day and considers it a dream to write about sports professionally. He’s a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan from Western New York who mistakenly thought, back in the early ’90s, that his team would be in the Super Bowl every year. He started following European soccer — with a Manchester City focus — in the early 2000s after spending far too much time playing FIFA.

When he’s not enjoying a round of golf or coaching youth soccer and flag football, Tim likes reading the work of Bill Simmons, Tony Kornheiser, Chuck Klosterman, and Tom Wolfe.