MVP of the week: Patrick Queen

The Ravens defense dominated the Bengals last Sunday, forcing three turnovers, scoring a defensive touchdown, sacking QB Joe Burrow seven times, and nearly pitching a shutout if not for a late field goal by Cincinnati. While several players deserve to be highlighted for their performances on Sunday, such as CB Marlon Humphrey for his forced fumble and sack, CB Marcus Peters for an interception and sack, or OLB Pernell McPhee who pressured Burrow more than anyone, it’s rookie ILB Patrick Queen who gets the spotlight here.

The rookie out of LSU earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week in just his fifth start after a performance to remember against his old college teammate Burrow. Against the Bengals, Queen led the team in total tackles with nine, had a sack in which he forced a fumble and also recovered it, and recovered another fumble for a touchdown.

Through the first five games of the season, Queen has emerged as a favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year as he leads Baltimore in total tackles with 42, has two sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a touchdown.

Queen has shown notable growth already since the season started, which is an extremely promising sign for the 21-year old with only one year of starting experience in college.

Queen is poised to continue Baltimore’s success of first-round inside linebackers established with Ray Lewis in 1996 and later C.J. Mosley in 2014.