Derrick Henry rushed for a year-best 216 rushing yards and tied a personal best with four rushing scores as the Ravens staved off elimination by toppling the Green Bay Packers by a score of 41-24 on Saturday night.
The powerful back had three touchdown runs in the first half 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 highest total in league history.
His 36 carries represented a personal record.
The Ravens (8-8) now must hope the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers fall at the Browns on Sunday. A Steelers victory in Cleveland would extinguish Baltimore’s postseason dreams. If the Cleveland win that game, the could win the AFC North by beating the Steelers on the road next week.
Green Bay (9-6-1) dropped their third consecutive game, allowing the 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 deals with a back injury while Green Bay’s Jordan Love is in the concussion protocol. The two backup quarterbacks – Tyler Huntley and Green Bay’s Malik Willis – were both productive in a contest that featured only a single punt.
The Packers' fill-in went 18-for-21 for a personal-best 288 passing yards and one touchdown, and he also ran for 60 yards and two scores before exiting after aggravating a shoulder issue. Huntley was 16-for-20 for 107 yards with one touchdown.
The difference in the matchup was the Packers' failure to stop Henry, who helped the Baltimore outrush the Packers by a wide margin.
Henry didn’t touch the ball in Baltimore’s final two series the week before in a costly loss. The veteran running back’s lack of fourth-quarter usage was a major point of discussion around Baltimore all week.
The Ravens ensured he got the ball frequently from the outset. Henry’s dominance allowed the Ravens to score on their first five possessions and build a 27-14 halftime lead.
He totaled 15 carries in the team's first two series and finished each of them with touchdown runs. He added a further three-yard touchdown just before the end of the half.
The Packers made it competitive by outscoring the Ravens ten to nothing in the third quarter.
After a field goal, the Packers elicited the first punt of the night. The QB then scrambled for an 11-yard score to cut the deficit to a three-point game.
But the Baltimore squad answered on their next series.
Henry ran for a crucial first down on a third-and-5. He ended the third quarter with a 30-yard burst. Those key runs paved the way for a scoring strike from Huntley to his receiver.
Willis led the Packers into Baltimore territory before injuring his shoulder and departing for the locker room. His replacement threw an pick on his only pass.
CJ Stroud threw for a pair of deep scores on the team's opening possessions, and the Houston went on to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 20-16 on Saturday afternoon to secure a third straight postseason appearance.
The Texans (11-5) extended their winning streak to eight games, their best run in several seasons.
The Chargers (11-5) had their four-game winning streak snapped and handed the AFC West title to their rivals.
Stroud’s two explosive TDs shocked the Chargers 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 ended the day with 244 passing yards.
The Texans' defensive unit recorded key sacks on the Chargers’ first two possessions. The Chargers were held to quick punts on three of their first four possessions.
The LA signal-caller, playing with a hand injury, was brought down on five occasions.
An interception of the Texans' QB in the first half only produced a three points for the offense. Another interception failed to produce any scores.
The LA were denied on the one-yard line by a crucial interception. The target saw the ball pop off his hands, leading to the change of possession.
The Chargers' kicker failed to convert a kick from close distance just before halftime and later pushed wide an extra point on the last possession after a score.
The Houston specialist converted field goals from beyond 40 yards to help secure the win.
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