Derrick Henry ran for a year-best 216 rushing yards and tied a career high with four TDs on the ground as the Ravens kept their playoff hopes alive by toppling the Green Bay Packers 41-24 on Saturday night.
The powerful back had three touchdown runs in the opening two quarters and then found the end zone once more on a 25-yard run with under two minutes remaining in the game. His seventh career 200-yard game surpassed Adrian Peterson and OJ Simpson for the most in league history.
His 36 rushing attempts constituted a personal record.
The Ravens (8-8) now must rely on the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers lose at the Browns on Sunday. A Pittsburgh win in Cleveland would extinguish the Ravens' postseason dreams. If the Browns win that game, the could win the division title by beating the Steelers on the road next week.
Green Bay (9-6-1) dropped their third consecutive game, allowing the Chicago Bears to clinch the division crown. The Green Bay had previously secured a postseason spot earlier in the week.
Both teams were without their first-string QBs as Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson deals with a back injury while Green Bay’s Jordan Love is in the concussion protocol. The two replacement starters – Baltimore’s Tyler Huntley and Green Bay’s Malik Willis – were both productive in a game that featured only a single punt.
The Packers' fill-in went 18 of 21 for a personal-best 288 passing yards and a TD pass, and he also rushed for 60 yards and two scores before leaving after re-injuring a shoulder issue. The Ravens' backup was 16-for-20 for 107 yards with a scoring pass.
The difference in the matchup was the Packers' failure to slow down Henry, who helped the Baltimore outrush the Packers by a wide margin.
The star running back didn’t touch the ball in Baltimore’s last two possessions the week before in a costly loss. The veteran running back’s lack of fourth-quarter usage was a hot topic locally all week.
The Ravens made sure he touched the rock early and often. Henry’s dominance enabled the Ravens to score on their initial five drives and take a 27-14 halftime lead.
Henry accumulated 15 carries in the team's first two series and capped each of them with scores. He tacked on a further three-yard touchdown just before the second quarter ended.
Green Bay got back into the game by outscoring Baltimore 10-0 in the third quarter.
After a field goal, the defense elicited the initial punt of the night. Willis then scrambled for an 11-yard score to make it 27-24.
But the Ravens responded on their ensuing drive.
The workhorse back ran for a crucial first down on a third down play. He ended the period with a 30-yard burst. Those two plays paved the way for a touchdown pass from Huntley to his receiver.
The Packers' quarterback drove the offense into Baltimore territory before injuring his throwing shoulder and departing for the sideline. His replacement threw an pick on his first attempt.
CJ Stroud connected on two long touchdowns on Houston’s first two drives, and the Texans went on to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 20-16 on Saturday afternoon to clinch a third straight postseason appearance.
The Houston Texans, now 11-5 won their eighth in a row, their best run in several seasons.
The Los Angeles Chargers, also 11-5 had their positive run ended and ceded the AFC West title to their rivals.
Stroud’s two explosive TDs stunned the defense and gave the Texans a 14-0 lead. On his first pass of the game, he hit a receiver for a 75-yard score. He later tossed a 43-yard TD on the following possession.
He connected on his first six throws of the game. He finished with 244 yards.
The Texans' defensive unit forced third-down sacks on the Chargers’ first two possessions. The Chargers were forced to three-and-out on three of their first four possessions.
The Chargers' quarterback, playing with a hand injury, was brought down on five occasions.
An interception of Stroud in the first half only produced a three points for the offense. Another takeaway did not yield any scores.
The LA were denied on the one-yard line by a crucial interception. The target saw the pass bounce away, leading to the change of possession.
The placekicker missed a kick from short range just before the break and later pushed wide an PAT attempt on the team’s final drive after a score.
The Texans' kicker made field goals from 41 and 44 yards to help secure the victory.
Lena Hoffmann is a seasoned journalist with a passion for uncovering stories that matter, specializing in German current affairs and digital media trends.
