The Baltimore Ravens’ Derrick Henry runs for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Derrick Henry Provides Baltimore Ravens With Closer for Long Playoff Run
The narrative of Lamar Jackson not delivering in the postseason will disappear now that Derrick Henry is in the same backfield.
The Ravens knew exactly what they were getting when they signed Henry to a two-year, $16 million free-agent contract this past offseason. More importantly, the team prepared for moments like Saturday, when Baltimore emerged victorious 28-14 over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
Henry carried the ball 26 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns, including a 44-yard scoring scamper.
Henry finished second during the regular season with 1,921 rushing yards. His 325 carries were the second-most among all backs. However, his 5.9 yards per carry were a career-high.
While Henry’s workload once again reached 300 carries for the fourth time in six seasons, the punishment may not have been as grueling, with opponents more concerned about Lamar Jackson’s presence.
As the postseason ramps up, the Ravens can jump on Henry’s back instead of hoping their quarterback is Superman in every single contest. The 31-year-old ball-carrier is not wearing down. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Henry reached a top speed of 20.60 mph during his touchdown run. It was his sixth play to reach said speed, which ranks fourth in the NFL.
“He looked like a movie clip,” Jackson told reporters after the game. “You watch the movie ‘Cars.’ You know when Lightning McQueen is just flying as he passes? That’s how Derrick looks. … It looked like a movie. I’d rather be watching it than on the other side of the ball.”
Henry had more carries than Jackson attempted passes, with the Ravens finishing the contest with 50 rushing attempts compared to 21 throws.
With Jackson and Henry in the backfield, the Ravens offense is nearly impossible to defend. The difference now is that Henry is more than capable of taking over the game, as he did Saturday.
Pittsburgh Steelers Enter Another Offseason With QB Issues After Playoff Disappointment
The Steelers are right back where they started.
A year ago, Pittsburgh lost by 14 points in the opening round of the postseason and entered the offseason with major questions at quarterback.
Well, Saturday’s outcome turned out to be another 14-point loss in the opening round of the postseason with major questions at quarterback yet to be answered.
Russell Wilson didn’t prove to be the calming veteran presence the Steelers hoped he’d be. In fact, Pittsburgh lost its final five games, including the postseason.
Ultimately, Wilson threw for 270 yards against the Ravens. But he did nothing to help the Steelers move the ball in the first half. Most of his yards came with Pittsburgh trailing and the Ravens controlling the game.
Now, the Steelers have to face the fact that neither Wilson nor Justin Fields really provided the team with what they needed. Both are free agents. General manager Omar Khan and head coach(?) Mike Tomlin should look in different directions.
Maybe the team takes a similar path as this year and tries to sign a veteran castoff like Kirk Cousins once the Atlanta Falcons decide to cut ties. Or, the team can reinvest in the game’s most important position after failing to do so properly with the draft selection of Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 class.
Whatever the case, the Steelers aren’t settled. They’re a mediocre football team. They’ve been a mediocre squad. Things aren’t going to change without some type of improvement behind center.
