The Ravens opened the playoffs by starting fast and finishing strong.
They weren’t in the mood for another nerve-racking game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Battles between these AFC North rivals usually come down to the wire, often decided on the final possession.
Not this time. Baltimore’s offense had too many weapons, and its defense pitched a first half shutout and found enough answers when Russell Wilson started cooking in the second half.
With an emphatic performance on Wild-Card weekend, the Ravens advanced to the divisional round with 28-14 victory before a jubilant Saturday night crowd at M&T Bank Stadium.
Here are my thoughts on a Ravens team that was ready to rumble, rushing for 299 yards on the way to sending the Steelers home:
Derrick Henry’s alarm clock rings when the playoffs start.
After a great regular season, Henry opened the postseason with a dominant performance (26 carries, 186 yards, two touchdowns). We’ve seen this before when he was with the Tennessee Titans, but now we’re seeing Henry do it with the Ravens on a journey that could take him farther than he’s ever gone.
Henry was a human highlight reel in this game. He set the tone on Baltimore’s opening 95-yard scoring drive by shoving Minkah Fitzpatrick to the grass with a Henry-hammer stiff arm on a Wildcat run.
It was an early indication that Pittsburgh would have an all-night problem with No. 22. He continued to have his way in the third quarter when he rumbled 44 yards for a touchdown that gave the Ravens a 28-7 lead
Lamar Jackson compared Henry’s running style to watching the kids movie, “Cars,” but there was nothing entertaining about it to the Steelers.
“You know how Lightning McQueen is just flying, flashing past?” Jackson said. “That’s how Derrick looked.”
Any team that faces the Ravens in the playoffs knows that Henry is waiting. His ability to wear down a defense gives Baltimore a psychological and tactical edge moving forward.
Head Coach John Harbaugh said his father, Jack, must’ve been proud watching the Ravens pound the rock.
Who enjoys tackling Henry in January? “Nooo-body.”
