[Lake's elite ball production](https://www.therams.com/news/feature-quentin-lake-displaying-elite-ball-production-pass-breakups-multiple-alignments-slot-2025) through five games resulted in six passes defended entering Sunday, which was tied for fifth in the league. It felt like he was on the cusp of a takeaway each time he got his hands on the ball. In Week 6, his interception drought finally ended, and he also recovered a fumble to help the Rams keep Baltimore out of the end zone in their 17-3 road victory.
Rams training camp showed off a different side of Lake. Despite entering his fourth NFL season with zero interceptions, Lake picked off multiple passes and broke up a bunch more during the team periods at Loyola Marymount University. It was just a matter of time before that translated to Sundays.
In 2024, Lake's breakout season included a captainship, a 100% snap share (apart from Week 18 when many starters rested) and career highs in tackles and sacks. It almost felt wrong looking at that zero on the stat sheet under career INTs because he'd made such a sizable impact on the defense all year. When the stats update tomorrow morning, that zero will finally be gone.
"He's been around the ball," said head coach Sean McVay. "He's made so many plays. He's so instrumental in so many different things that we do, and he had a great game today."
Outside linebacker Jared Verse echoed that, saying Lake's proclivity for forcing tight windows in coverage helps give the defensive line more time to rush the passer. "You get that one little extra second 'cause Q is kind of just right in the zone where the quarterback wants to throw it."
Fittingly, Lake made more than one impact play on Sunday.
Early in the second half, Flowers tried to spark the offense with some jukes and weaves after the catch, but Verse knocked the ball loose with an outstretched arm. Lake, who had followed Flowers all the way across the field, scooped it up and carried it 20 yards just outside the Ravens' red zone.
Lake was originally the deep safety on the left side, but never gave up on the play and ended up recovering the fumble near the right sideline. His dad, former NFL safety Carnell Lake, always told his son that "good things happen for to those who run," and that play was "just a prime example" of his father's teachings, Lake said.