BALTIMORE, MD-- Heading into Sunday's matchup, Packers quarterback Brett Hundley has Ravens' players and coaches drawing comparisons to six-time pro bowler Aaron Rodgers, according to Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com
"When you look at him without the number on him, he has a lot of the same characteristics as Aaron Rogers," said safety, Eric Weddle. “He has a great feel in the pocket. It is almost as A-Rod does; he is like a magician back there.”
Hundley has shown steady improvement since his three-interception debut against the Vikings. Over his last two games, a 30-17 loss to the Lions and a 23-16 win over the Bears on the road, Hundley is a combined 44-63(69 percent) with 457 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions.
In his game against the Bears, which featured a perfect fourth quarter in terms of passer rating and 110.7 overall rating, was the 19th highest rated game from any quarterback over the last three weeks.
It's a big step-up from his first two games where he was a combined 30-58 (51 percent) with one touchdown and four interceptions.
"He has operated the offense very well," said Ravens coach, John Harbaugh. "He is not a rookie. He has been there for three years. He knows the offense. You can see that he emulates Aaron Rodgers a lot in the way that he handles himself and the way that he plays the game."
Hundley's performance against the Bears could be a sign of things to come. The third year quarterback led the Packers to offense to 342 total yards last week, the third highest total of the season against a stout Bears defense that ranks in the top half of the league.
Though, one Ravens defender, veteran linebacker Terrell Suggs, could not care less if it's Rodgers or Hundley under center.
"Unless it is the guy up in Boston [Tom Brady], that would be a big difference [if his backup played]," Suggs said. "There are some other premier quarterbacks. Other than that, everybody else, it is just like, ‘They can play.’"
Apparently, Suggs doesn't see the gap between Rodgers and Hundley as monumental drop-off compared to Brady's backup. Or, at least, isn't worried about the quarterback on the sidelines.
“There is nothing more important than the team you are playing and the guy that is under center," he said. "I don’t think it really so much matters that they were backups before. They are starting now"
Instead, the Ravensthird-ranked defense will spend its time working on figuring out Hundley, who based on recent games, Suggs said the Ravens need to be cautious of.
"The guy is coming off a win. Momentum and confidence are everything, especially in this league," he said.
Though, Hundley still has some elements of his game to fine tune before the matchup.
In terms of getting the ball out his hand quickly, Hundley has lagged behind. According to nextgenstats.nfl.com,Hundley ranks last among all 37 qualified quarterbacks in the NFL with an average of 3.13 seconds per throw. Rodgers, on the other hand, ranks 21st with an average of 2.67 seconds.
Yet, Mike McCarthy still remains confident in Hundley's ability, and, similar to the Ravens, is pleased and impressed with his continued development.
"He's improved with every opportunity," he said.
