Ravens Stay Alive Behind Henry’s Quadruple-TD Performance, Texans Secure Playoff Berth
The veteran running back accumulated a season-high 216 rushing yards and matched 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 evening.
Henry had three scores in the opening two quarters and then scored again on a 25-yard dash with under two minutes remaining in the game. His seventh career 200-yard game surpassed Adrian Peterson and OJ Simpson for the most in NFL history.
His 36 carries constituted a career high.
The Ravens (8-8) now must rely on the division-leading Steelers lose at the Browns on Sunday. A Steelers victory in Cleveland would extinguish Baltimore’s postseason dreams. If the Browns win that game, the Ravens the division title by defeating the Pittsburgh on the road next week.
The Packers, falling to 9-6-1 lost their third straight, allowing the Chicago Bears to clinch the division crown. The Packers had previously secured a postseason spot earlier in the week.
Both squads were without their starting quarterbacks as Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson is sidelined by a back injury while Green Bay’s Jordan Love is in the league's head injury program. The two backup quarterbacks – Tyler Huntley and Malik Willis – were both effective in a game that saw only one punt.
Willis went 18 of 21 for a career-high 288 passing yards and a TD pass, and he also ran for 60 yards and two scores before exiting after re-injuring a shoulder issue. Huntley was 16 of 20 for 107 yards with one touchdown.
The deciding factor in the game was Green Bay’s inability to slow down Henry, who helped the Ravens outrush the Packers 307-79.
Henry didn’t touch the ball in the Ravens' last two possessions the week before in a costly loss. The veteran running back’s absence in the final period was a major point of discussion locally all week.
The Ravens ensured he touched the rock early and often. Henry’s dominance 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 the team's first two series and finished each of them with scores. He added another three-yard touchdown just before the second quarter ended.
The Packers made it competitive by outscoring the Ravens 10-0 in the third quarter.
After a field goal, the Packers elicited the initial punt of the night. The QB then ran for an 11-yard score to cut the deficit to 27-24.
But the Baltimore squad answered on their next series.
Henry ran for a crucial first down on a third-and-5. He closed the third quarter with a long run. Those two plays paved the way for a touchdown pass from the quarterback to his receiver.
Willis drove the Packers into Baltimore territory before injuring his shoulder and heading to the locker room. His backup threw an pick on his only pass.
Houston Texans Secure Postseason Berth After Win Over Los Angeles
The Texans' quarterback connected on two long touchdowns on the team's first two drives, and the Texans went on to defeat the Chargers by four points on Saturday to clinch a third consecutive playoff berth.
The Houston Texans, now 11-5 extended their winning streak to eight games, their longest such streak in several seasons.
The Chargers (11-5) had their positive run snapped and handed the AFC West title to their rivals.
The young QB's pair of quick strikes stunned the Chargers and gave the Texans a 14-0 lead. On his initial throw of the game, he found a wideout for a 75-yard score. He later threw a deep scoring pass on the following possession.
Stroud completed his first six throws of the game. He ended the day with 244 passing yards.
The Texans' defensive unit recorded key sacks on the opponent's first two possessions. The Chargers were forced to three-and-out on three of their first four possessions.
The LA signal-caller, playing with a broken hand, was sacked five times.
An interception of Stroud in the second quarter only produced a field goal for the Chargers. Another interception did not yield any scores.
The LA were denied on the goal line by a crucial interception. The intended receiver saw the pass pop off his hands, leading to the change of possession.
The placekicker missed a kick from short range just before halftime and later missed an extra point on the last possession after a late touchdown.
The Houston specialist made kicks from 41 and 44 yards to help secure the victory.
