Derrick Henry ran for a year-best 216 rushing yards and equaled a personal best with four rushing scores as the Baltimore Ravens staved off elimination by toppling the Packers by a score of 41-24 on Saturday night.
The powerful back had three touchdown runs in the first half and then found the end zone once more on a 25-yard run with under two minutes remaining in the game. His seventh 200-yard game moved him ahead of two legendary runners for the highest total in league history.
His 36 carries constituted a career high.
The Ravens (8-8) now must rely on the division-leading Steelers fall at Cleveland on Sunday. A Pittsburgh win in Cleveland would extinguish the Ravens' postseason dreams. If the Cleveland win that game, the Ravens the AFC North by defeating the Steelers on the road next week.
Green Bay (9-6-1) lost their third straight, allowing the Bears to clinch the division crown. The Packers had already clinched a postseason spot earlier in the week.
Both teams were missing their starting quarterbacks as the Ravens' star QB deals with a back issue while Green Bay’s Jordan Love is in the concussion protocol. The two replacement starters – Tyler Huntley and Malik Willis – were both effective in a game that saw only one punt.
Willis went 18 of 21 for a personal-best 288 yards and a TD pass, and he also rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns before leaving after re-injuring a shoulder issue. Huntley was 16 of 20 for 107 yards with one touchdown.
The difference in the game was Green Bay’s inability to contain Henry, who helped the Baltimore outgain on the ground the Packers by a wide margin.
The star running back didn’t touch the ball in Baltimore’s final two series the week before in a costly loss. The proven rusher's absence in the final period was a hot topic locally all week.
The coaching staff ensured he got the ball early and often. Henry’s dominance enabled the Ravens to score on their initial five drives and take a 13-point lead at the break.
Henry totaled 15 rushes in the team's opening two drives and finished each of them with touchdown runs. He tacked on another three-yard touchdown just before the second quarter ended.
The Packers made it competitive by outplaying the Ravens ten to nothing in the third quarter.
After a field goal, the Packers elicited the initial punt of the night. Willis then ran for an 11-yard score to make it a three-point game.
But the Ravens answered on their next series.
The workhorse back ran for a key gain 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 Zay Flowers.
Willis led the offense into Baltimore territory before hurting his throwing shoulder and heading to the locker room. His backup threw an pick on his only pass.
CJ Stroud threw for two long touchdowns on Houston’s first two drives, and the Texans went on to defeat the Chargers by four points on Saturday afternoon to secure a third straight postseason appearance.
The Houston Texans, now 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 ended and ceded the division crown to their rivals.
The young QB's pair of quick strikes stunned the Chargers and gave the Texans a two-score advantage. On his first pass of the game, he hit a wideout for a 75-yard score. He later threw a 43-yard TD on the next drive.
Stroud connected on his first six throws of the game. He finished with 244 yards.
The Texans' defensive unit forced third-down sacks on the opponent's opening drives. The Chargers were forced to quick punts on three of their first four possessions.
The Chargers' quarterback, playing with a broken hand, was brought down on five occasions.
An interception of the Texans' QB in the second quarter only produced a field goal for the Chargers. Another takeaway failed to produce any scores.
The Chargers were stopped on the one-yard line by a crucial interception. The target saw the pass bounce away, leading to the change of possession.
The placekicker failed to convert a field goal from close distance just before halftime and later missed an PAT attempt on the team’s final drive after a score.
The Houston specialist converted kicks from beyond 40 yards to help secure the victory.
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