The Los Angeles Rams got the best of the severely shorthanded Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, winning 17-3 in a defensive masterclass that saw just 117 total passing yards from Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley. L.A. also forced three turnovers, including the first career interception for Quentin Lake.
The Ravens led 3-0 when they began their second offensive drive of the game. And on just the third play of that drive, Lake intercepted a pass from Rush that was intended for top receiver Zay Flowers. The Rams offense was unable to capitalize on the pick, but it helped set the tone, as the Ravens would not score again in the game.
Lake was asked about the big defensive play, and spoke about what he took away from practice that allowed him to perfectly telegraph the Ravens’ play call and force the turnover.
“What’s funny is, that down and distance and that play came up in practice many of times, but they ran it a little bit differently,” Lake said. “When we had it in practice, it was Zay Flowers at the ‘Z,’ and it was DeAndre Hopkins at the ‘X,’ and we knew that Zay Flowers was the move guy, but they switched it up. They had Isaiah Likely as the move guy.
“He moved in the line, and I told Emmanuel [Forbes Jr.] to stay down, and I’ll stay on Zay Flowers. A lot of times the move guy wants to get a clean release off the line – a free release – so [I was] just trusting the preparation. I got the same route, so I was like, ‘I’m going to undercut the route. If he throws the ball, I know it’s going to be a pick.’”
The Rams secondary has had some rough moments this season. They did not perform particularly well in either of L.A.’s two losses to the San Francisco 49ers or Philadelphia Eagles, and has generally looked like the weak spot in the Rams defense through six games.
However, on Sunday, every part of the defense looked stellar. And Lake ensured that the secondary got on the board in that game by grabbing the first pick of his young career.
The Rams continue on their lengthy time away from Los Angeles as they travel from Baltimore across the Atlantic to London in Week 7.
After their win, the Rams turn their attention to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who they face next week.
Rather than fly back to L.A. before their international trip, the Rams will be spending the next few days in Baltimore to lessen the travel time.
“I actually think it’s great because it’s the scenario that we’re dealt,” head coach Sean McVay said of the Rams’ plans. “What we’ll do is we’ll have a normal week of preparation.”
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