Snoop Huntley, Elijah Ponder, and Jordan Battle are the AFC’s Week 5 Secret Superstars
Superstars may lead the discussion when it comes to success in the NFL, but more often than not, it’s the guys you barely know who will make the plays needed when they’re needed. Such players can be underrated for all kinds of reasons. Perhaps they’re playing in a smaller market, and the media isn’t appropriately […]
Week 5 of the 2026 NFL regular season saw the Baltimore Ravens' Tyler "Snoop" Huntley, the New England Patriots' Elijah Ponder, and the Jacksonville Jaguars' Jordan Battle rise to the forefront as the AFC's secret superstars. Huntley, playing for the Baltimore Ravens, stepped up as the team's backup quarterback after Lamar Jackson's injury.
In three relief appearances, Huntley achieved the remarkable feat of going 10-for-10 passing and rushing, scoring a touchdown, and achieving a passer rating of 127.3. His performance not only tied the game but also resulted in a win for the Ravens in overtime. Huntley's composure and consistent performance under pressure earned him praise from his head coach, Jesse Minter, who stated that the Ravens "have more confidence in their backup quarterback than any other team in the NFL."
Elijah Ponder, an undrafted free agent from Cal Poly, made a significant impact as the edge-rusher for the New England Patriots. Over two seasons with the Cal Poly Mustangs, Ponder amassed an impressive 25 sacks and 151 pressures. This season, he has delivered five sacks and 18 pressures in just 125 pass-rushing snaps. Ponder's performance has been particularly notable in the Patriots' 45-17 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders, where he contributed to a dominating defensive effort with two sacks and five pressures.
Ponder's development and rising prominence have been recognized by Patriots' defense members, with one stating, "He could put points up on anybody."
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