Jamison Hensley, ESPN staff writer
BALTIMORE — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson didn’t feel like he was playing in the AFC Wild Card Game at times on Saturday. As he watched running back Derrick Henry tear apart the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, a scene from a certain movie flashed through Jackson’s mind.
“Do you see the movie ‘Cars’? That’s what Derek looks like when Lightning McQueen speeds by,” Jackson said. “He ran through all these guys. It looked like a movie, man. I’d rather watch it than be on the other side of the ball. I know that.”
Henry never took his foot off the gas, setting a Ravens playoff record with 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns as Baltimore defeated the Steelers 28-14 at M&T Bank Stadium. Henry frustrated Pittsburgh with a stiff arm and rushes through the middle of the defense, and Henry rushed for over 150 yards in the postseason for just the fourth time, tying Terrell Davis for the most rushing yards in NFL postseason history. Most players.
The Ravens will advance to the divisional round next weekend, when they will face the Buffalo Bills on the road or at home against the Houston Texans. Baltimore, meanwhile, will look back on Henry’s 44-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and smile.
“I think it’s fun to watch Lamar run, but to watch Derrick Henry run for a touchdown, I think that’s probably even better,” Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley said. “Maybe it’s because he’s 6-foot-5 and runs like a gazelle.”
Jackson and the NFL’s No. 1 offense lost Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers to a knee injury. It didn’t matter because the Ravens ran the ball on 50 of 72 plays. Baltimore ran the ball on all 13 possessions during its 85-yard drive in the second quarter, including Henry’s 8-yard touchdown run.
Combined with Jackson’s 81 yards rushing, the Ravens totaled 299 yards, setting a new franchise record. It was the most rushing yards by a team in the postseason since the 2012 San Francisco 49ers rushed for 323 yards in the divisional round.
“We won’t be too [far] “We’re going to keep a cool head, enjoy the movie, watch the movie and see what we can do better and then move on to the next one,” Henry said. “
Henry’s first long run was a move that offensive coordinator Todd Monken just added during Thursday’s practice. Henry adopted a wildcat formation, rushed directly and ran 34 yards, scoring the first touchdown of the game.
Then, in the third quarter, Henry broke through the Steelers defense for a 44-yard rushing score, the longest touchdown of his postseason career. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Henry’s top speed was 20.6 mph, marking just the second time this season that he topped 20 mph on a touchdown run.
“Derrick is just a workhorse. That’s the guy,” Jackson said. “I can just pass the ball out, [and he gets] 10 yards, 20 yards, 30 yards, I just get chills. “
When Jackson wasn’t handing the ball to Henry, he was running the ball himself. His 15 carries were his second-most of the season and resulted in a back injury. Between games in the series, Jackson carried a heat pack on the sideline.
“I’m fine,” Jackson said. “Honestly, it doesn’t bother me at all. It’s just a little annoying, but I’m fine. Nothing to worry about.”
The Ravens will beat either the Bills or the Texans in the regular season by a combined score of 66-12. If the Bills beat the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Baltimore will face Buffalo next weekend. If the Bills lose at home, the Ravens will host the Texans.
With the way Henry and Jackson are running the ball, the Ravens are confident in whoever they face next.
“Those guys [are] lead, so we’re just getting started,” Ravens middle linebacker Roquan Smith said. “That’s the appetizer on our menu. “
