There were moments on Saturday when it felt like Lamar Jackson, the quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, was not participating in an AFC wild-card game. As he watched running back Derrick Henry dominate the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense, Jackson couldn't help but recall a scene from a particular movie.
"Have you seen 'Cars'? When Lightning McQueen is zipping past everyone, that's exactly how Derrick looked," Jackson remarked. "He was just outrunning everyone. It resembled a movie, honestly. I'd rather be watching from the sidelines than facing that."
Henry, never letting up, set a Ravens postseason record with 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns, leading Baltimore to a 28-14 victory over the Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. With a series of impressive stiff arms and powerful runs, Henry amassed his fourth postseason game with over 150 rushing yards, tying him with Terrell Davis for the most such games in NFL playoff history.
With this win, the Ravens move on to the divisional round next weekend, where they will either take on the Buffalo Bills or host the Houston Texans. In the meantime, Baltimore will fondly remember Henry's spectacular 44-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
"I enjoyed watching Lamar run, but seeing Derrick Henry score a touchdown? That might top it," said Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley. "Maybe it's because he's 6-foot-5 and moves like a gazelle."
Despite the absence of Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers due to a knee injury, the Ravens' No. 1 offense thrived, running the ball on 50 of their 72 plays. During a remarkable 85-yard drive in the second quarter, Baltimore ran the ball for all 13 plays, culminating in Henry's 8-yard touchdown run.
With Jackson adding 81 rushing yards, the Ravens totaled a franchise-record 299 rushing yards. This marked the highest rushing yardage in a playoff game since the 2012 San Francisco 49ers, who had 323 yards in a divisional round triumph. "We're not going to get carried away and boast about how great we are," Henry said. "Instead, we'll remain grounded, enjoy this win, review the film to identify areas for improvement, and then move on to the next challenge."
Henry's first long run during the game stemmed from a play that offensive coordinator Todd Monken had just introduced on Thursday. Operating in the wildcat formation, Henry took the direct snap and sprinted for 34 yards, setting up the game’s opening touchdown.
Later, in the third quarter, he burst through the Steelers' defense for a 44-yard rushing touchdown—the longest of his postseason career—reaching a top speed of 20.6 miles per hour, marking the second instance
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