BALTIMORE — There were times Saturday when Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson didn’t feel like he was playing in an AFC wild-card game. When watching running back Derrick Henry tear through the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, Jackson had flashbacks to a certain movie.
“Do you watch the movie ‘Cars’? When Lightning McQueen was just flying flashing past, that’s how Derrick looks,” Jackson said. “He was running past all those guys. It just looked like a movie, bro. I’d rather be watching it than being on the other side of the ball. I know that.”
Never letting off the gas pedal, Henry set a Ravens postseason record with 186 yards rushing and two touchdowns as Baltimore rolled to a 28-14 win over the Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. Frustrating Pittsburgh with stiff arms and sprints up the middle of the defense, Henry recorded his fourth postseason game with 150 or more yards rushing, which ties him with Terrell Davis for the most in NFL playoff history.
The Ravens advance to the divisional round next weekend, when they will play at the Buffalo Bills or home against the Houston Texans. In the meantime, Baltimore will think back to Henry’s 44-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and smile.
“I thought it was fun watching Lamar run, but watching Derrick Henry run for a touchdown, I think that might take the cake,” Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley said. “Maybe because he’s like 6-foot-5 running like a gazelle.”
Jackson and the NFL’s No. 1 offense were without Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers, who was sidelined with a knee injury. It didn’t matter because the Ravens ran the ball on 50 of 72 plays. On an 85-yard drive in the second quarter, Baltimore ran the ball on all 13 plays, including Henry’s 8-yard touchdown run.
Along with Jackson’s 81 yards rushing, the Ravens totaled 299 yards on the ground, which established a new franchise record. This was the most rushing yards in a playoff game by any team since the 2012 San Francisco 49ers, who had 323 in a divisional round win.
“We’re not going to get too [far] ahead of ourselves and go off the walls about how great we are,” Henry said. “We’re going to stay level-headed, enjoy this one, watch the film, see where we can get better at and then move onto the next one.”
Henry’s first long run came on a play that offensive coordinator Todd Monken just added in Thursday’s practice. Lining up in the wildcat formation, Henry took the direct snap and ran for 34 yards to set up the first touchdown of the game.
Then, in the third quarter, Henry broke through the gut of the Steelers defense for a 44-yard scoring run, which was the longest touchdown run of his postseason career. Henry reached a top speed of 20.6 miles per hour, which was the second time he surpassed 20 mph on a touchdown run this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
“Derrick is just a workhorse. That guy is just that guy,” Jackson said. “I can just hand the ball off, [and he gets] 10 yards, 20 yards, 30 yards and I’m just chilling.”
When Jackson wasn’t handing the ball off to Henry, he was running it himself. His 15 carries were his second-most of the season and led to him getting kneed in the back. In between series, Jackson had a heat pack on his back while on the sideline.
“I’m good,” Jackson said. “It really didn’t affect me at all, to be honest with you. Just a little nag, but I’m good. Nothing to worry about.”
The Ravens will either face the Bills or the Texans, both of whom they beat by a combined score of 66-12 during the regular season. If the Bills beat the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Baltimore will play at Buffalo next weekend. If the Bills get upset at home, the Ravens will host to the Texans.
With the way Henry and Jackson are running the ball, the Ravens are confident about whomever they play next.
“Those guys [are] leading the way, so we’re just getting started,” Ravens middle linebacker Roquan Smith said. “This is the appetizer to what we have on the menu.”
