The one factor the Baltimore Ravens by no means had for Lamar Jackson was a terrific operating again to assist him out. Mark Ingram had run close to the tip of his profession. Between accidents, J.Ok. Dobbins was efficient.
However the Ravens, on this period, have had a again like Derrick Henry. We may solely think about what the speeding lanes would appear like with defenses targeted on Lamar Jackson. Now we all know. And it is clear that Henry nonetheless has a lot left to supply at age 30.
Henry began off the evening with an 87-yard landing and had an enormous evening because the Ravens put an 0-2 begin behind them with their second straight win, a dominant 35-10 victory over the Buffalo Payments. Henry rushed for 199 yards on 24 carries. Final week towards the Cowboys he had 151 yards on 25 carries. He appears like he is nicely inside his prime, even at age 30.
When Henry was obtainable this previous offseason, he reportedly wished to signal with the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys declare they determined they could not affordtop-of-the-line backs of this period. The Ravens are fairly glad it unfolded that manner.
Henry provides a component to the offense that the Ravens have not skilled earlier than. If the Ravens make it again to the playoffs Henry can carry among the load that Jackson is used to having on his shoulder. That may’t be a nasty factor.
Derrick Henry has an enormous evening
On the Ravens’ first play of the sport, Henry made some historical past. Henry obtained between some good blocks and broke into the secondary. Henry is 247 kilos but in addition one of many quickest gamers within the NFL, and though he is 30 years outdated with the heaviest workload within the league over the previous few years, no one was going to catch him. Henry went 87 yards for the landing, and that is the longest run in Ravens historical past. With that, Henry turned the one participant in NFL historical past to have the longest run for 2 completely different franchises. His 99-yard run for the Tennessee Titans is tied for the longest in NFL historical past.
Henry scored once more on a 5-yard go from Lamar Jackson early within the second quarter and the Ravens led 14-3. The Payments had been implausible for 3 weeks to start out the season, however all of a sudden in Week 4 they had been unable to maintain up with the Ravens.
A few punts did not assist. The Payments punted on fourth-and-2 from midfield within the first quarter, and fourth-and-1 from their very own 39 within the second quarter once they trailed by 11 factors. It made no sense for Sean McDermott to punt in both spot, and it clearly damage his group’s probabilities of staying within the sport. The Ravens scored two touchdowns after these two punts.
McDermott hasn’t been that conservative on fourth down this season, however like his group as a complete, he appeared overwhelmed by the Ravens on Sunday evening.
Ravens shut robust
The Payments began the second half with some momentum. Josh Allen had a ridiculous downfield go to Khalil Shakir whereas he was going out of bounds, and that gained 52 yards and arrange a landing. The Payments obtained the ball again instantly, however Allen’s arm was hit by Kyle Van Noy on a throw, it was a fumble that the Ravens recovered and shortly after Jackson scored on a 9-yard landing run to place the Ravens again forward by 18 factors.
Even when Henry made a mistake it turned out nicely. After Henry had a 38-yard run to arrange the Ravens contained in the 5-yard line, he fumbled on his manner into the tip zone. However fullback Patrick Ricard recovered it ultimately zone for a landing and Baltimore led 35-10.
One of many causes the Ravens began 0-2 was that in Week 2, they stopped feeding Henry within the fourth quarter and that allowed the Las Vegas Raiders to come back again and beat them. Since then, Henry has destroyed the Cowboys after which the Payments. It did not take the Ravens too lengthy to determine that Henry can deal with as many carries as anybody is prepared to offer him, they usually’ll be a greater offense in consequence.
The Ravens had a terrific group final season however no one like Henry. In an AFC championship sport loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, they forgot nearly fully concerning the operating sport and that was a giant purpose they misplaced. That will not occur once more if the Ravens discover themselves in an identical scenario. Henry is a future Corridor of Famer, and the Ravens are a a lot completely different group with him of their backfield.
