Ravens Stay Alive Thanks to Henry’s Four Scores Performance, Houston Secure Playoff Berth
Derrick Henry accumulated 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 Packers by a score of 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 under two minutes remaining in the game. His seventh 200-yard rushing performance moved him ahead of Adrian Peterson and OJ Simpson for the highest total in league history.
His 36 rushing attempts marked a career high.
The Baltimore Ravens, now 8-8 now must hope the division-leading Steelers fall at the Browns on Sunday. A Pittsburgh win in Cleveland would extinguish the Ravens' postseason dreams. If the Browns win that game, the Ravens the division title by beating the Pittsburgh 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 Packers had already clinched a playoff berth earlier in the week.
Both squads were missing their first-string QBs as the Ravens' star QB is sidelined by 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 effective in a contest that saw only one punt.
Willis went 18 of 21 for a personal-best 288 yards and a TD pass, and he also ran for 60 yards and two touchdowns before exiting after re-injuring a shoulder issue. The Ravens' backup was 16-for-20 for 107 yards with one touchdown.
The difference in the matchup was the Packers' failure to contain Derrick Henry, who helped the Baltimore outrush the Packers 307-79.
Henry didn’t touch the ball in Baltimore’s last two possessions the previous week in a narrow defeat. The veteran running back’s lack of fourth-quarter usage was a hot topic locally all week.
The coaching staff ensured he touched the rock frequently from the outset. His powerful running enabled the Ravens to put points on the board on their initial five drives and build a 13-point lead at the break.
He accumulated 15 carries in Baltimore’s opening two drives and capped each of them with scores. He tacked on another short TD run just before the end of the half.
Green Bay got back into the game by outscoring Baltimore ten to nothing in the third period.
After a field goal, the defense forced the initial punt of the night. The QB then scrambled for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 27-24.
But the Ravens answered on their next series.
Henry ran for a key gain on a third-and-5. He ended the period with a 30-yard burst. Those key runs set up a touchdown pass from Huntley to his receiver.
The Packers' quarterback led the offense into Baltimore territory before injuring his shoulder and heading to the sideline. His replacement threw an interception on his only pass.
Texans Secure Postseason Berth With Victory Over Los Angeles
CJ Stroud connected on a pair of deep scores on Houston’s opening possessions, and the Texans went on to defeat the Chargers 20-16 on Saturday to secure a third consecutive playoff berth.
The Texans (11-5) won their eighth in a row, their longest such streak 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 shocked the Chargers and gave Houston a two-score advantage. On his first pass of the game, he found a wideout for a long touchdown. He later tossed a 43-yard TD on the following possession.
Stroud connected on his first six attempts of the game. He ended the day with 244 yards.
The Texans' defensive unit forced key sacks on the Chargers’ first two possessions. The Chargers were held to three-and-out on three of their first four possessions.
The LA signal-caller, competing with a hand injury, was sacked five times.
An interception of Stroud in the first half only resulted in a three points for the Chargers. Another interception failed to produce any points.
The Chargers were stopped on the one-yard line by a key defensive play. The intended receiver saw the ball pop off his hands, leading to the turnover.
The placekicker missed a kick from close distance just before the break and later missed an PAT attempt on the last possession after a late touchdown.
The Houston specialist converted kicks from beyond 40 yards to help secure the victory.
