Ravens Remain in Contention Powered by Derrick Henry's Four-Touchdown Performance, Texans Clinch Postseason Spot
Derrick Henry ran for a season-high 216 yards and equaled a personal best with four touchdown runs as the Baltimore Ravens staved off elimination by defeating the Packers 41-24 on Saturday evening.
The powerful back had three touchdown runs in the opening two quarters and then scored again on a 25-yard dash with 1:56 left in the game. His seventh career 200-yard rushing performance moved him ahead of Adrian Peterson and OJ Simpson for the most in league history.
His 36 rushing attempts represented a career high.
The Baltimore Ravens, now 8-8 now must rely on the AFC North-leading Steelers fall at Cleveland on Sunday. A Steelers victory in Cleveland would extinguish the Ravens' playoff hopes. If the Browns win that game, the Ravens the AFC North by beating the Steelers on the road next week.
The Packers, falling to 9-6-1 lost their third straight, enabling the Bears to clinch the NFC North title. The Packers had previously secured a playoff berth earlier in the week.
Both teams were missing their starting quarterbacks as Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson deals with a back injury while the Packers' signal-caller is in the concussion protocol. The two backup quarterbacks – Baltimore’s Tyler Huntley and Green Bay’s Malik Willis – were both productive in a contest that featured only a single punt.
Willis went 18 of 21 for a career-high 288 yards and a TD pass, and he also ran for 60 yards and two touchdowns before leaving after re-injuring a shoulder injury. The Ravens' backup was 16 of 20 for 107 yards with a scoring pass.
The deciding factor in the game was the Packers' failure to contain Henry, who helped the Ravens outgain on the ground the Green Bay by a wide margin.
Henry didn’t touch the ball in Baltimore’s last two possessions the week before in a costly loss. The proven rusher's lack of fourth-quarter usage was a major point of discussion around Baltimore all week.
The coaching staff made sure he touched the rock frequently from the outset. Henry’s dominance enabled the Ravens to put points on the board on their first five possessions and take a 27-14 halftime lead.
He totaled 15 rushes in the team's first two series and finished each of them with scores. He tacked on a further short TD run just before the second quarter ended.
Green Bay got back into the game by outscoring the Ravens 10-0 in the third quarter.
After a three-pointer, the defense forced the first punt of the night. The QB then ran for an 11-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to a three-point game.
But the Ravens answered on their next series.
The workhorse back ran for a crucial first down on a third-and-5. He ended the period with a long run. Those key runs paved the way for a touchdown pass from Huntley to Zay Flowers.
Willis drove the offense into Ravens' land before injuring his throwing shoulder and departing for the sideline. His replacement threw an pick on his first attempt.
Texans Secure Postseason Berth After Victory Over Los Angeles
The Texans' quarterback threw for two long touchdowns on the team's first two drives, and the Texans went on to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers by four points on Saturday to secure a third consecutive playoff berth.
The Houston Texans, now 11-5 extended their winning streak to eight games, their best run in several seasons.
The Los Angeles Chargers, also 11-5 had their positive run snapped and ceded the division crown to their rivals.
The young QB's pair of quick strikes shocked the defense and gave Houston a 14-0 lead. On his first pass of the game, he hit a wideout for a long touchdown. He later tossed a deep scoring pass on the next drive.
Stroud completed his first six throws of the game. He finished with 244 yards.
The Texans' defensive unit recorded key sacks on the opponent's first two possessions. The Los Angeles offense were held to three-and-out on multiple early drives.
The LA signal-caller, competing with a hand injury, was sacked five times.
An interception of Stroud in the second quarter only produced a field goal for the offense. Another takeaway failed to produce any points.
The LA were denied on the goal line by a crucial interception. The intended receiver saw the pass bounce away, leading to the turnover.
The Chargers' kicker failed to convert a kick from short range just before halftime and later pushed wide an extra point on the last possession after a score.
The Texans' kicker converted field goals from 41 and 44 yards to help secure the victory.
