The Baltimore Ravens need Shedeur Sanders to come up big for the Cleveland Browns against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
The Ravens are still looking to keep their playoff hopes alive. They did what they could on Saturday, defeating the Green Bay Packers 41-24 behind backup quarterback Tyler Huntley and running back Derrick Henry.
To stay in the playoff picture, the Ravens need the Steelers to lose to the 3-12 Browns. Baltimore and Pittsburgh square off in their season finale, and the AFC North title could be on the line in that game.
“I’m trying to make it out of here so I can call Shedeur real quick,” Huntley told reporters Saturday. “Make sure he can get it done.”
There’s little at stake for the Browns outside of draft position. But having an impact on the race for the division crown is something that Sanders, Myles Garrett, and the rest of the Browns will embrace.
“Like I said, you play for the man next to you. He’s given everything to be here. It’s an honor, it’s a privilege, it’s a blessing. I don’t want you to take it for granted, not a single second being in this league,” Garrett said after Cleveland’s most recent loss. “You never know when your moment’s going to come, and you never know when it’s going to go. So, keep your head up, be proud of everything that you do, and just keep moving forward.”
Tyler Huntley Became Mentor for Browns QB Shedeur Sanders
The Browns staged a four-man quarterback battle during training camp that included Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Sanders. Huntley was with the Browns for most of the preseason but more as an extra arm with the team dealing with injuries.
Huntley became a mentor for Sanders, showing him the ropes as a backup.
“I would say I’m thankful that Huntley here,” Sanders said. “He gave me a perspective of quarterback that I feel like I needed … I feel like God’s sent him here for a reason, honestly, just to talk and to be like a mentor towards me and his career, also. But being in that backup role, he faced that also in his career and he just gave me the mentality on what I need to do and how I need to stay on top of everything. Just helping me out throughout everything.”
Notably, all five quarterbacks who were in the Browns’ training-camp room ended up making starts somewhere this season. Joe Flacco started games for both Cleveland and the Cincinnati Bengals, while Kenny Pickett was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders and started in Week 16. Huntley has filled in at Baltimore for former MVP Lamar Jackson, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Sanders each started multiple games for the Browns.
Shedeur Sanders Looking to Lock Up Starting Gig for Browns
For Sanders, the final two games mean a lot for his future. The fifth-round pick who was once buried on the depth chart has a chance to prove to the franchise that he can be their starter next season.
He hasn’t been able to pile up wins, going just 1-4 in his five starts. However, Sanders has shown significant improvement and has been praised by the coaching staff for his work ethic.
“(Sanders) started really strong,” Rees said of Sanders’ performance in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 16. “I think positives-wise, we knew coverage-wise how they played, there was going to be some opportunities to create with your legs when they’re matching as much as they do with two-high.
“Thought he did a really nice job there on a number of occasions. He was good in the pocket when he needed to escape, and then some of the action game when they were playing two-high, matching coverage, either finding Q (Quinshon Judkins) or finding guys underneath to keep the sticks efficient was really a positive for him. I thought he felt very comfortable throughout the game.”
Sanders and the Browns will close out the season next week against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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