Baltimore’s playoff picture narrowed Saturday night, and the solution now sits outside the organization.
After steering the Ravens to a 41-24 win over the Green Bay Packers, quarterback Tyler Huntley shared that his next move would not involve film study or recovery.
Instead, he planned to reach out directly to Cleveland Browns starter Shedeur Sanders, whose upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers will determine whether Baltimore’s season continues.
“I’m trying to make it out of here so I can call Shedeur real quick,” Huntley said Saturday. “Make sure he can get it done.”
"I'm trying to get out of here so I can call Shedeur. Make sure he can get it done." @_SNOOP1 pic.twitter.com/0aY9GVef3X
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 28, 2025
The circumstances are stark. Baltimore’s win pushed the Ravens to 8-8, but their postseason path depends entirely on Cleveland upsetting Pittsburgh. A Browns loss would immediately eliminate Baltimore from contention.
Huntley, pressed into action with Lamar Jackson sidelined by a back injury, delivered the performance the Ravens needed, but not the control they wanted. That control now rests with a rookie quarterback on a struggling rival roster.
The connection between the two passers adds another layer of complexity. Huntley and Sanders shared time in Cleveland during training camp before Huntley was released Aug. 24, giving the Ravens quarterback a firsthand look at Sanders long before this scenario emerged.
Tyler Huntley and the Browns-Steelers ripple effect
Sanders enters the matchup carrying uneven production but unavoidable significance. In five starts this season, he has completed 58.3 percent of his passes for 1,056 yards, throwing six touchdowns against seven interceptions.
Those numbers place him under scrutiny, yet they also define why Baltimore’s hopes remain alive. A single outcome on Sunday reshapes the AFC North race and sets up a potential Week 18 showdown between the Ravens and Steelers.
Huntley’s role in this story reflects the volatility of late-season football. His start against Green Bay came out of necessity after Jackson’s injury against New England left Baltimore vulnerable with two games remaining.
The Ravens responded with a dominant win, fueled by a ground-heavy attack, but the victory only delayed the reckoning.
What makes this moment unusual is not the math but the reliance. A quarterback who once fought for roster security is now publicly backing a former camp teammate to preserve his own team’s future.
Sanders, drafted 144th overall in the fifth round, was never expected to influence another franchise’s postseason fate this directly. Yet with Cleveland facing Pittsburgh and Baltimore watching closely, the rookie has become the hinge on which the Ravens’ season turns.
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