Steelers Week 18 Opponent Tyler Huntley Detailed Readiness For Critical Matchup

The Pittsburgh Steelers will play the biggest game of their season Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens. It also happens to be the final game of the regular season. The Steelers' postseason hopes hinge, at least in part, on them being able to pull out a win against their biggest rival. The Ravens have already won the AFC North and have announced they will be sitting some key players, including MVP candidate Lamar Jackson. That gave backup quarterback Tyler Huntley the opportunity to speak with the media about the chance to play the Steelers once again. 

The Steelers are not unfamiliar foes to Huntley. He has played Pittsburgh three times during his three seasons in the NFL, usually because of injury to Jackson. During those three matchups, the Steelers have won twice and Baltimore once, with all three games being within 3 points. In those games, he has a passer rating of 60.6 with 359 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and three interceptions. 

Many Steelers fans have voiced that they would rather play Jackson than Huntley. This is curious since Jackson has a passer rating of 66.8 in his six games against Pittsburgh, with 870 passing yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions. However, Jackson is 2-4 against the Steelers, which includes his loss earlier this season. 

Steelers Are Ready To Face Tyler Huntley And He Said He Is Up To The Challenge

In preparation for the game against the Steelers, both quarterbacks have spoken to the media and that includes Huntley. The two teams will meet in Baltimore, which its proximity to Pittsburgh only fuels the rivalry. 

The forecast for the Saturday afternoon kickoff is the kind of weather that the AFC North thrives upon: cold, wet, and snowy. Huntley told the media the team did lots of wet ball drills to try to get ready. 

"I'm just going to seize the moment and do what I do," said Huntley. "The Steelers are a physical team, and it's always a good game. We've just got to score points, and our defense is going to handle the rest."

Jackson, who has grown close to Huntley as he has mentored him, said he has all the faith in the world in his young protegee. 

"I believe 'Snoop' (Huntley's nickname) can get the job done. We have guys who can go out there and ball out. I have all the faith in my team," praised Jackson. 

As he should, the Ravens have taken the NFL by storm this season, particularly as they have gotten better and better. After demolishing the Miami Dolphins during Week 17 and clinching the division, along with home-field advantage, they were able to rest some players comfortably. The Steelers are still fighting for their playoff lives. They need to win and get a little help from another team(s). 

Anyone who says this game is completely meaningless to the Ravens now doesn't understand football in the North. The Steelers have been in this position before and we cared plenty, even if the win changes nothing. Sometimes you are playing for pride alone. 

Pittsburgh is hoping that sticking with the hot hand in third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph continues to be the best decision from Head Coach Mike Tomlin. Rudolph has helped the team score at least 30 points in the past two games for the first time all season. 

But Rudolph has not faced pressure like the kind he will get from this tremendous Ravens defense. The Ravens have 57 sacks, which leads the league. They are not ranked as the top defense, that honor goes to the fellow division rival Cleveland Browns, but the Ravens are ranked 4th overall. 

Steelers-Ravens games are always low-scoring affairs. Rudolph will struggle to get 30 points on the board this week, only one team has done that this year (the Browns who scored 33 in their win). A key matchup will be running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren operating Tomlin's "running back by committee" program against the Ravens' defense. While the Ravens' defense might be number one at stopping scoring, they rank 13th against the run. 

One thing is for sure, this game will be stressful for Pittsburgh fans and for Steelers players who feel like they have something to prove, especially Rudolph who is playing for the future of his career at this point. 

Who do you think will walk away with the victory, the Steelers or the Ravens? Who would you rather face Huntley or Jackson? Click to comment below!

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