BALTIMORE — Take a bow, Tyler Huntley.

The sixth-year veteran backup quarterback certainly earned it.

With the season in the balance, Huntley stepped into a must-win moment Saturday night and delivered. He played within the structure of the offense and trusted Baltimore’s necessary game plan of leaning on Derrick Henry during the team’s 41-24 victory at Green Bay.

Huntley’s defining sequence featured his command of a 12-play, 85-yard march that was capped by his sharp 10-yard completion to Zay Flowers. Baltimore’s longest drive displayed Huntley at his best — decisive, poised and in control.

John Harbaugh graded Huntley’s performance an “A+++.” The Ravens’ only two victories over winning teams (Chicago and Green Bay) this season have occurred with Huntley as the starter. Against the Packers, he also added a dynamic element Baltimore hasn’t consistently had at quarterback this year; Huntley had eight rushes for 60 yards, including the team’s first 20-yard quarterback run of the season.

Huntley’s latest performance has sparked debate ahead of Sunday night’s winner-take-all trip to Pittsburgh: With the AFC North title and a playoff berth at stake, should the Ravens ride the hot hand?

Former Ravens and longtime Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe posted Sunday on X: “Some might see this as a hot take, but IF* I’m the Ravens, I’m going with Huntley as my starter. King Henry getting at least 30 carries more IF* needed.”

A recent email from one Baltimore Sun subscriber reads: “Regardless of what Lamar’s teammates say … without a doubt it’s time to move on from Lamar. I truly hope Huntley starts again Sunday for the Ravens, he has a quicker release then Lamar and can run faster then Lamar at this point. This organization has to be totally honest for once and rid themselves of a cancer that will continue to drag this franchise down.”

It’s a fair question — and the wrong answer.

Sure, Huntley was steady and deserving of praise. But even in a down year, this remains Jackson’s team. And if he is healthy enough to play, he must start the most important game of the season.

Jackson suffered a back contusion during the team’s Week 16 loss to the Patriots. He did not practice all last week, was listed as doubtful and ultimately ruled inactive before kickoff against Green Bay. Ahead of Week 18 at Pittsburgh, the Ravens are scheduled to hold their first of three practice sessions on Wednesday, when clarity on Jackson’s availability should surface.

On Monday, coach John Harbaugh labeled Jackson’s status for Sunday night’s game as “to be determined.”

“He’s coming off a very serious injury,” Harbaugh said. “He’s working at it. I saw him here today working at it. I think we’ll know a lot more Wednesday. … If Lamar’s ready to go, he’s playing.”

It really should not be that complicated.

Mamba Mentality is a phrase often used by many professional athletes, including several inside the Ravens’ locker room. Superstars don’t sit out winner-take-all games when they’re healthy enough to play. Even if his mobility is compromised by multiple lower-body injuries amid a down season, Jackson is still the Ravens’ best option at quarterback. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player is a far superior downfield passer than Huntley, particularly against a Steelers’ pass defense that ranks 29th in the NFL.

Of course, the game plan shouldn’t change.

Todd Monken’s play sheet must revolve around Henry, with an emphasis on physicality and controlling the line of scrimmage. Following his career outing at Green Bay, Henry is now up to 1,469 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns this season. The future Hall of Fame halfback needs just two more rushing touchdowns to set a new single-season career high.

The Steelers are bound to create at least a couple of negative plays, but Monken and Harbaugh must express patience and stick to the team’s identity. The Ravens also inevitably will face critical downs, such as third-and-longs, and Jackson provides the offense the best chance in those situations during a de facto playoff game.

“We’re playing a division championship game on Sunday, that’s what we’re doing the last week of the season,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a meaningful thing. We’ve worked hard to get to this position. There’s a lot of different paths in football and life. This is the path of the 2025 season. Here we are. Our goal is to make the most of it.”

There’s also an organizational reality that can’t be ignored. Jackson is the highest-paid player in franchise history, carrying an average annual salary of $52 million. You do not sit a player of his stature in a division-clinching, season-defining game, no matter how well the backup and Jackson’s close friend performed in his absence.

Huntley has done exactly what Baltimore needed him to do. He commendably protected the football and kept the season alive. Now, if Jackson is healthy enough, the responsibility returns to him in the NFL’s highly anticipated Game 272. The Ravens are chasing their third consecutive division title, a playoff berth and a chance to make up for a season that’s been widely defined as a massive disappointment. This unprecedented stage — Sunday night will mark the first time Baltimore and Pittsburgh will meet in the regular-season finale with the AFC North at stake — is meant for the franchise quarterback.

Take a bow, Huntley.

Then hand the huddle back to Jackson and let the Ravens live with the choice that gives them their best chance to win.

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