Ravens MVP of the week: Matthew Judon

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Buffalo Bills 24-17 on Sunday in a hard-fought, windy contest that came down to the final minutes. On a day where QB Lamar Jackson threw three touchdown passes, it was the defense of Baltimore that played hero for most of the day, including when it mattered most at the very end.

In such an impressive defensive performance, one player stood above the rest for the Ravens. OLB Matthew Judon made several game-changing plays en-route to Baltimore’s ninth-straight victory. Judon finished the game with five total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, and two more QB hits.

Judon’s biggest play of the day came at the end of the first quarter. With the Ravens leading 3-0, Judon sacked quarterback Josh Allen on 3rd-&-8, stripping the ball in the process. DE Jihad Ward was there to recover the fumble, which setup Baltimore’s first touchdown of the game.

Judon would later split a sack with DT Michael Pierce for a loss of seven yards, which put Buffalo in a 3rd-&-17 situation. The Bills would have to settle for a field goal before the end of halftime after failing to convert the long third down.

Judon’s play continues to rise as he plays for a new contract in his fourth year. He has made a strong case to be re-signed by general manager Eric DeCosta this offseason. Whether he remains with the Ravens or finds himself on another team next season, one thing is for certain, the 2015 fifth-round pick out of Grand Valley State is going to get paid quite handsomely.