Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry get Ravens off to quick start in AFC wild-card game

Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry get Ravens off to quick start in AFC wild-card game

If the Baltimore Ravens are going to capture their first Super Bowl since 2012, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry will likely have everything to do with it.

The Lombardi Trophy glimmers are still far down the road, but the offensive duo, at least thus far, has more than held up their end of the bargain.

Lamar Jackson celebrates with Tylan Wallace after throwing a pᴀss for a touchdown during the second quarter of the Ravens-Steelers AFC wild-card playoff game. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Through the first half of the Ravens’ AFC wild-card matchup against the Steelers in Baltimore, Jackson and Henry have combined for 164 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. 

Jackson was 13-of-15 on completions with 144 pᴀssing yards in the first half as the Ravens took to the locker room with a 21-0 lead.

Baltimore reached the end zone on their first drive of the game — a methodical 13 play, 95-yard undertaking capped by a 15-yard touchdown pᴀss to wide receiver Rashod Bateman. 

The biggest play of the drive came several snaps earlier when Henry took a direct snap and busted his way to the Steelers’ 12-yard-line, a gain of 34.

The Ravens’ second drive of the game was something of an outlier — lasting just six plays.

Derrick Henry dives for a touchdown during the second quarter of the Ravens-Steelers AFC wild-card game. Getty Images

However, Baltimore bounced back, with the third and fourth drives looking similar to the first.

Henry accounted for the Ravens’ second touchdown — an 8-yard run at the end of a 13 play, 85-yard drive — and Jackson hooked up with running back Justice Hill on the third score of the evening.

That latter scoring drive — nine plays, 90 yards — took only 1:51.

Justice Hill scores on a touchdown pᴀss from Lamar Jackson during the first half of the Ravens-Steelers playoff game. AP

Baltimore has dominated on both sides of the ball, with Mike Tomlin and the Steelers mustering together just 59 total yards in the half compared to the Ravens’ 308.

“It’s Lamar, man — he’s making plays, he’s extending plays when they get behind the chains,” the Steelers head coach told Amazon Prime’s sideline reporter as he head for the locker room. “We just got to be more solid. We have to possess the ball and we haven’t done that enough.”

Related Posts

Why Philadelphians ‘f—ing hate’ Joe Buck a major talking point on Jason Kelce’s new talk-show

Why Philadelphians ‘f—ing hate’ Joe Buck a major talking point on Jason Kelce’s new talk-show

Joe Buck doesn’t need Kylie Kelce to tell him the City of Brotherly Love loathes him, but he would like to understand why. “You guys f—ing hate…

NFL fans outraged by Steelers-Ravens Prime Video game

NFL fans outraged by Steelers-Ravens Prime Video game

It is not the first and it will not be the last, but that doesn’t make it any more palatable for some fans The NFL granted Prime…

Dave Portnoy leads Justin Herbert backlash after Chargers’ embarrᴀssing loss to Texans in Wild Card showdown

Dave Portnoy leads Justin Herbert backlash after Chargers’ embarrᴀssing loss to Texans in Wild Card showdown

Dave Portnoy fumed over Justin Herbert’s quarterback abilities after an embarrᴀssing performance in the Chargers’ Wild Card loss to Houston on Saturday night. After being favored to…

Texans pick off Justin Herbert four times in AFC wild-card win over Chargers

Texans pick off Justin Herbert four times in AFC wild-card win over Chargers

The last time the Texans took the field at NRG Stadium, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens rolled to the tune of 432 yards and 31 points. Saturday,…

Sports studio shows have become an utter waste of time

Sports studio shows have become an utter waste of time

When I was a kid, Yankees rain delays and rainouts weren’t a total loss because Ch. 11 would plug in old — old even then for kids…

BREAKING NEWSGamblers misfire badly on NFL’s Wild Card playoff opener between Texans and Chargers

BREAKING NEWSGamblers misfire badly on NFL’s Wild Card playoff opener between Texans and Chargers

Saturday’s postseason opener between the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers was FanDuel’s most lopsided betting line for the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs. According…