Ravens QB Huntley 'Ready For' Steelers Defense
The Baltimore Ravens have nothing to play for if you ask most outside of the AFC North Division's inner circle when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend.
But those who are in the division, observe it, or are fans of the Ravens know that beating the Steelers is a driving point no matter the time of year or situation. So everyone expects whatever version of the team we see this weekend to go out looking for a win.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (2) scrambles with the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The fact a Baltimore win effectively ends the NFL season in Pittsburgh only adds to it.
Leading the Ravens while MVP candidate quarterback Lamar Jackson gets some rest ahead of the playoffs will be Tyler Huntley, a man who is no stranger to the field or this rivalry.
“That’s a big opportunity [for Tyler Huntley] to go out there and play against a defense like [Pittsburgh] – one of the top defenses in the league," coach John Harbaugh says. "It’s a great opportunity for him, but he’s ready for it. I’m looking forward to seeing him play.”
This won't be Huntley's first start, he's had eight of them so far in his three years before this season.
Most notably he started four games for Baltimore in 2022 playing to a 2-2 record as a starter and earning a trip to the Pro Bowl as an AFC alternate that year.
That year, Huntley helped the Ravens secure a 16-14 win over the Steelers and despite losing Jackson for five games the team finished with a 10-7 record finishing second in the AFC North Division.
But things are a bit different now, as Huntley prepares for his first start in his fifth time on the field this season.
“Going into this game, it’s going to be a little bit of personnel difference," Huntley said when asked to compare previous starts to this one. "In the past here, we’ve been down a lot of people, and the situation was way different. But now we’ve got a good group in there, and we’re just going to take it from there.”
The personnel are different for Huntley this time around, and so is the scheme.
Gone is the run-focused approach of the past, replaced by offensive coordinator Todd Monken's willingness to dial up passes to the extent that Jackson surpassed his career high in attempts on Christmas Day.
"It’s a straightforward plan each and every week, and it’s easy to grasp and just take it play by play," Huntley said of Monken's approach and game plans. "Really, I think, that’s what ‘LJ’ [Lamar Jackson] just shot through the roof [on] – just taking every play one snap at a time.”
Huntley is clearly looking to take full advantage of what everyone hopes will be his only shot at significant playing time this season, and No. 1 seed or not, we'd imagine most of the people reading this would like to see the Ravens cap off the regular season with a win over the Steelers.
