Ravens demolish Texans on Christmas behind Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson

HOUSTON — The Baltimore Ravens are actually one win away from repeating as AFC North champions.

Behind an unrelenting dashing assault and a dominating protection, the Ravens are answerable for their division destiny after routing the Houston Texans, 31-2, on Christmas Day. It was an embarrassing exhibiting for the Texans, who failed to attain a landing behind a sluggish offensive efficiency.

With one week remaining, Baltimore (11-5) holds a one-game lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6), who misplaced to the Kansas City Chiefs, 29-10, earlier Wednesday.

The Ravens finish the common season at dwelling in opposition to the last-place Cleveland Browns subsequent week. Baltimore managed the sport with 251 yards dashing, utilizing the mixture of the highly effective working of Derrick Henry (147 yards) and the pace of quarterback Lamar Jackson (87 yards).

It was a record-setting day for Jackson, who surpassed Michael Vick because the NFL’s all-time main dashing quarterback.

The Ravens protection hammered Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, producing 5 sacks and one interception. Baltimore would have recorded its first shutout since October 2018 if not for Henry’s security within the second quarter.

Here are the keys from the sport:

Promising development: The Ravens scored a landing on their opening drive for the primary time in 12 weeks. Capping the 75-yard drive, Henry scored on a 2-yard run for his sixteenth landing, which set a Ravens’ single-season report. This additionally ended a four-game landing drought for Henry, the third longest of his profession.

Pivotal play: The Ravens stopping Texans working again Joe Mixon wanting the tip zone on fourth down within the second quarter. With Baltimore up 10-2, Baltimore security Ar’Darius Washington delivered successful on Mixon to knock him out on the Ravens’ 1-yard line to cease Houston’s momentum. This was the Ravens’ fourth straight cease on fourth-and-goals this season. Baltimore then drove 99 yards for a landing, which ended with Jackson’s 9-yard landing move to Isaiah Likely. Jackson scrambled round to purchase 8.4 seconds of time earlier than throwing, which ranked as his second-longest time to throw on a landing this season.

Eye-popping stat: Jackson reached a most pace of 21.25 miles per hour on that 48-yard landing run within the third quarter. According to Next Gen Stats, that is the best high pace of Jackson’s seven-year profession. It is the second-fastest max pace by a quarterback this season, rating solely behind Arizona’s Kyler Murray (21.27 mph). — Jamison Hensley

Next recreation: vs. Browns (Jan. 5, TBD)

In a check to show whether or not they might take care of the very best within the AFC, the Texans got here out flat in opposition to the Ravens and did not do something effectively. They allowed Henry to hurry for 147 yards and a landing. They additionally gave up a 48-yard dashing landing and two passing touchdowns to Jackson, who had a passer score of 143. Houston’s dashing assault was non-existent, totaling 58 yards whereas Stroud had a subpar efficiency totaling 185 passing yards with an interception. He took 5 sacks and it was the primary time in Stroud’s profession he had zero scoring drives.

The Texans are actually 1-5 in opposition to successful groups this season as they limp into the playoffs. Their solely victory in opposition to a successful workforce got here in opposition to the Buffalo Bills in Week 5. On the intense aspect, the Texans will nonetheless go to the playoffs having clinched the AFC South.

Describe the sport in two phrases: No combat. The Texans had been bodily dominated from the get-go, permitting the Ravens to hurry for 115 yards within the opening quarter, essentially the most the Texans have allowed in a primary quarter this season. Houston by no means mustered any power the remainder of the night time.

QB breakdown: This was maybe essentially the most disappointing efficiency of Stroud’s NFL profession. The offense is lacking star wideouts Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, however Stroud was off course on eight throws, his second most this season. He additionally wasn’t capable of get any factors on the board for the offense for the primary time in his younger profession.

Biggest gap within the recreation plan: Missing two of his finest receivers, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik gave Mixon solely 9 carries whereas Stroud had 36 dropbacks. In the primary half, when the Texans had been down 10-0 and the sport nonetheless inside attain, Slowik had a 13-play stretch when he referred to as 12 move performs.

Prediction for subsequent week: Texans starters solely play 1 / 4 in opposition to the Tennessee Titans. Houston is locked into the No. 4 seed, so there’s little incentive for them to play starters for lengthy in Week 18. Risking vital gamers getting harm is not value it, particularly when security Jimmie Ward, nickel Jalen Pitre, Diggs and Dell are already out for the season. — DJ Bien-Aime

Next recreation: at Titans (Jan. 5, TBD)