GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Derrick Henry rushed for a season-high 216 yards and tied a career high with four touchdowns as the Baltimore Ravens beat the Green Bay Packers 41-24 on Saturday night to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Henry scored three touchdowns in the first half and scored again on a 25-yard rush with 1:56 left in the game. His seventh career 200-yard rushing performance puts him ahead of Adrian Peterson and OJ Simpson for the most in NFL history.
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His 36 rushes set a career high.
The Ravens (8-8) now have to hope the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers lose to Cleveland on Sunday. A Steelers victory in Cleveland would end Baltimore’s playoff hopes. If the Browns win that game, the Ravens can clinch the AFC North title by defeating the Steelers on Jan. 4 in Pittsburgh.
Green Bay (9-6-1) lost three straight games to help the Chicago Bears capture the NFC North title. The Packers have clinched a playoff spot after the Detroit Lions lost 23-10 to Minnesota on Thursday.
Both teams were without their starting quarterbacks, with Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson suffering a back injury and Green Bay’s Jordan Love being treated for a concussion. Two backup starters – Baltimore’s Tyler Huntley and Green Bay’s Malik Willis – both performed well in a game that featured just one punt.
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Willis made 18 of 21 throws and scored a career-high 288 yards and 1 touchdown. He also rushed for 60 yards and 2 touchdowns after a shoulder injury aggravated midway through the fourth quarter. Huntley made 16 of 20 throws for 107 yards and one touchdown.
The difference in this game was Green Bay’s inability to slow down Henry, who helped the Ravens beat the Packers 307-79.
Henry didn’t touch the ball in Baltimore’s final two-game series last weekend, and the Ravens were held to just 11 points in the fourth quarter and lost 28-24 to New England, leaving their playoff hopes slim. The veteran running back’s fourth-quarter absence has been a hot topic in Baltimore all week.
The Ravens made sure he got the ball early and often on Saturday. Henry’s dominance allowed the Ravens to score in their first five possessions and lead 27-14 at halftime against Green Bay, which had scored no more than 24 points in 14 consecutive home games.
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Henry totaled 15 carries in Baltimore’s first two series and scored touchdowns of 3 and 1 yards, respectively. He is the first player since the Denver Nuggets’ Orlandis Gary against Green Bay in 1999 to complete at least 15 possessions in his team’s first two offensive series.
He added another 3-yard touchdown with 10 seconds left in the second quarter.
Green Bay outscored Baltimore 10-0 in the third quarter to get back into the game.
The Packers forced their first punt of the night after Brandon McManus kicked a 24-yard field goal. Willis then ran around the right end for an 11-yard touchdown, making it 27-24 with 2:02 left in the third quarter.
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But the Ravens responded on the next series.
Henry ran for 9 yards from Baltimore’s 20 on third-and-5. He had a 30-yard gain down the right sideline at the end of the third quarter. Those two plays led to Huntley’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers on third-and-8 with 10:10 left.
Willis led the Packers into Baltimore territory before hurting his shoulder and heading to the locker room. Clayton Thune took over and his only pass was intercepted by Marlon Humphrey.
A few minutes later, Henry struck the fatal blow.
Injuried
It was a painful night in every sense of the word for the Packers.
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Green Bay safety Zahn Anderson (ankle), defensive lineman Jordan Riley (Achilles) and cornerback Kamal Harden (ankle) were sent to the locker room. Cornerback Nate Hobbs suffered a knee injury and receiver Dontayvion Wicks was evaluated for a concussion.
Right tackle Zach Tom (back/knee) and receiver Savion Williams (foot) join Love in missing Saturday’s game.
Next
Ravens: Jan. 4 at Pittsburgh.
Packers: Jan. 4 vs. Minnesota.
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