Things seemed to set up well for Tyler Huntley in Week 5. As always, he had the confidence of his teammates and coaches. Then came game time, and he gave theBaltimore Ravens something just as valuable: confidence that they can get quality quarterback play when circumstances force them to look beyond Lamar Jackson.
Huntley's performance against theAtlanta Falcons reminded us that evaluating a quarterback means looking beyond reputation and asking what he actually put on the field that week. That doesn't automatically make Huntley the best quarterback in the AFC North, but it does make him worthy of serious consideration in this week's rankings.
Joe Burrow remains hard to unseat. Aaron Rodgers showed he still has plenty left. Deshaun Watson continues
to face questions about his consistency. Huntley enters the conversation after earning his place through performance rather than expectations. Here's how the AFC North quarterbacks stack up after Week 5.
1. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow benefits somewhat from facing the Miami Dolphins this week, but that isn't his fault. A quarterback can only play the opponent in front of him, and Burrow made the most of the matchup, throwing four touchdown passes in Cincinnati's win.
The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback completed 23 of 32 passes for 190 yards. The offense did enough to win, although allowing Miami to make things interesting in the fourth quarter remains a concern for a team that revamped its defense during the offseason.
Burrow remains the division's top quarterback because he can elevate the offense. Cincinnati is 3-2, and keeping Burrow healthy and productive gives the Bengals a chance to make noise as the season progresses.
2. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers' Jekyll-and-Hyde season continues. This week, the Steelers got the good doctor, as the future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee can be hard to figure out week to week.
After a rough performance, the Steelers quarterback responded by completing 22 of 31 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns. The Steelers also ran the ball effectively, helping Rodgers operate in a more favorable offensive environment.
He isn't the player he once was, but performances like this show why he can still outplay several quarterbacks in the league. The question is consistency. Rodgers deserves credit for his latest outing, but he'll need to sustain this level of play to challenge Burrow for the division's top spot.
3. Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens
Tyler Huntley being third is no slight. So many QBs played well this week. The Ravens' signal-caller should be proud. He earned this spot by showing he can lead Baltimore's offense under pressure.
His performance wasn't about matching Jackson's playing style or proving that he should replace the Ravens' franchise quarterback. It was about making the most of his opportunity, and he did enough to earn another start if needed.
Huntley is now 3-0 as Baltimore's starter since returning last season. That record gives the Ravens a reason to feel confident heading into their matchup with the Cleveland Browns, particularly with Huntley carrying momentum into the week.
A win over Cleveland would strengthen his case even further. The Ravens should enter that matchup believing they have the better team, and Huntley has shown enough to make the quarterback matchup competitive.
4. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Watson and the Cleveland Browns endured another difficult outing, losing to the New York Jets after a late fourth-quarter swing. Watson completed fewer than half of his passes, finishing with 155 yards and one touchdown.
His average of more than 10 yards per completion suggests he found some downfield opportunities, but the overall lack of accuracy remains concerning. Cleveland needs more consistent quarterback play if it hopes to challenge for a winning record.
Watson has yet to establish the reliability expected of him in Cleveland, so he remains fourth in these rankings. Until he strings together more convincing performances, he'll have to earn the benefit of the doubt.
For now, Watson remains at the bottom, while Huntley has earned a place in the middle of a competitive division. The next round of games could shake things up, particularly if Huntley gets another start against Cleveland.
He has already shown that he can deliver when the Ravens need him, and another win would make it harder to dismiss his place among the AFC North's quarterbacks as a temporary storyline. Week 6 gives him a chance to prove that Sunday's performance was more than a one-night success.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ranking AFC North quarterbacks after Tyler Huntley's comeback win
