Ravens-Packers takeaways: Derrick Henry's 4 TDs keep Baltimore's playoff hopes alive
Baltimore needs Pittsburgh to falter Sunday to set up a Week 18 showdown for the AFC North crown.
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A battle of backup quarterbacks saw one team remain in the playoff hunt while the other lost its chance to win its division as the Baltimore Ravens beat the Green Bay Packers 41-24 Saturday night at Lambeau Field. However, it was a running back who stole the show as Baltimore’s Derrick Henry rushed for 216 yards and four touchdowns.
The Ravens (8-8) will need the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) to lose to the Cleveland Browns (3-12) on Sunday and then beat the Steelers in the season finale next week in Pittsburgh to win the AFC North and make the playoffs.
The Packers (9-6-1) clinched a playoff spot when the Detroit Lions lost on Thursday, but Saturday’s loss handed the NFC North title to the Chicago Bears.
The Ravens leaned heavily on Henry, who got them out to a 27-14 halftime lead behind 106 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the first half. He finished with a career-high 36 carries for 216 yards and four touchdowns. Henry became the focal point with quarterback Lamar Jackson missing the game with a back injury. Backup Tyler Huntley stepped up, going an efficient 16-of-20 for 107 yards and a touchdown pass while rushing eight times for 60 yards.
Quarterback Malik Willis stepped in for Packers starter Jordan Love, who was ruled out after suffering a concussion last week. Willis kept the Packers in the game, going 18-of-21 for 288 yards and a touchdown while rushing nine times for 60 yards and two touchdowns. However, he left the game in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury.
Reliance on Henry a correction from last week
Ravens coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Todd Monken listened to questions all week about why Henry did not see the field in the final two drives of the 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots. They seemed determined not to make the same mistake again. Henry had 15 carries with less than two minutes elapsed in the second quarter. He had five games this year in which he didn’t get 15 carries.
He had 21 carries at halftime, just four off his season high. He had 27 through three quarters, two over his season high. It’s easy to question why the Ravens haven’t leaned harder on Henry all year, but for one night, they did — and the Packers struggled to stop him. — Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens beat writer
Shorthanded Packers D struggling
Micah Parsons and Devonte Wyatt aren’t coming back to save this Packers run defense. In their first game without Parsons last Saturday, the Packers surrendered 150 rushing yards on 26 carries against the Bears before allowing a whopping 307 yards on the ground from 53 carries against the Ravens. Henry ran all over Green Bay’s depleted front for 216 yards on 36 carries.