Tag: Derrick Henry

ESPN projects Ravens RB Derrick Henry to win NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award

Derrick Henry named Offensive Player of the Year by ESPN’s midseason awards.

We are halfway through the 2024 season, and the more things change, the more they seem to stay the same as Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry continues to obliterate NFL defenses.

Through 10 games this season, Henry has carried the rock 184 times for 1,120 yards, which is good for a staggering 6.08 yards per carry. The former ‘Bama bruiser has also found the endzone in each of his first ten games after coming over from Tennessee this off-season. Baltimore currently stands alone atop the AFC North standings and Henry feels like he may be that missing piece to help get Lamar and Harbaugh past Patrick Mahomes in the postseason.

With nine more weeks left in the NFL regular season, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell hands out his midseason awards picks: Best players, rookies, coaches. Barnwell projects Baltimore’s new feature back to be named as the NFL Offensive Player of the Year saying, 

“As it stands, Baltimore has found an excellent balance of relying on Henry in key moments and letting him rest his legs, which has certainly helped after years of massive workloads in Tennessee. He has played only 55% of the offensive snaps this season, which makes it even more preposterous that he’s leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage.

If Henry can keep this up, it will be one of the greatest running back seasons we’ve ever seen. Another Offensive Player of the Year award would put Henry into rarefied company; every player who has won at least two OPOY awards is either already in the Hall of Fame or is a lock to make it once he’s eligible.”

Barnwell also expects Henry’s backfield mate, Jackson, to bring home his third MVP award.

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Top photos from the Ravens 35-34 win over the Bengals on Thursday Night Football

Top photos from the Ravens 35-34 win over the Bengals on Thursday Night Football

Underused pass catcher Tylan Wallace had three catches for 115 yards (38.3 avg) and one touchdown, including an 84-yard catch and run that resulted in Lamar Jackson’s longest touchdown pass of his career, as Baltimore held on for a 35-34 win at home on Thursday night. Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase almost spoiled the Purple Rising party, as the former LSU star logged 11 catches on 17 targets for 264 yards (26.4 average) and three touchdowns, with a long of 70 yards for a touchdown.

In another near-perfect performance, Jackson was 25-33 passing for 290 yards (8.8 avg), four touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 141.4 rating. His AFC North rival, Joe Burrow, did his part for the Bengals, hanging in the pocket as he went 34-56 passing for 428 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

The Ravens defense allowed 470 yards, as Cincinnati was 8-16 on third downs.   Baltimore was sloppy on the night, with 11 penalties for 81 yards.

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Derrick Henry can help the Ravens avoid another hiccup vs. Bengals

it’s time the Baltimore Ravens stop treating HB Derrick Henry as an added commodity and focus on making him the primary option on offense.

Quarterback Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are in town to face the Baltimore Ravens for Thursday night football. To neutralize Burrow and the stellar Bengals pass game, the Ravens should rely on running back Derrick Henry to both lead the offensive attack and milk the game clock.

The 6-3 Ravens cannot afford another hiccup in week 10, especially versus an AFC North foe. Currently sitting behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the division standings, the Ravens need to put their foot down in primetime, and the entire world will be watching. 

In Week 8, Henry was limited to just 11 carries, and the Ravens lost 24-29 to the Cleveland Browns. The Ravens have three losses on their season record, and only one of those opponents is currently in playoff contention. Nevertheless, all hope is not lost as offensive coordinator Todd Monken keeps Henry well-fed in tonight’s attack.

Henry’s 23 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns were complete staples to the Ravens’ 41-10 victory over the Denver Broncos last Sunday. Sure, quarterback Lamar Jackson had a great outing, but it’s time the Ravens stopped pretending that Henry was just an added commodity and focused on making him the primary option on offense.

Ultimately, if the Ravens get into a shootout against the Bengals as they did in week 5, favor might not grant them the last-minute victory like last time. Thus, the Ravens must stay ahead of schedule and feed Henry the ball.

John Harbaugh on Derrick Henry’s ability to close games: ‘It’s a big thing’

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh raved over the ability of running back Derrick Henry to close games

The Baltimore Ravens signed running back Derrick Henry to a two-year, $16 million deal on the second day of NFL free agency last offseason. He’s been everything and more for the team through his first nine games with the franchise, already eclipsing 1,000 yards and breaking multiple records.

After Baltimore’s big Week 9 win over the Denver Broncos, head coach John Harbaugh was asked about Henry’s ability to close out games. He called it a “big thing” and praised his running back for his performances.

“It’s a big thing. We have been really good at running the ball for a long time, but this [run game with Derrick Henry] is different. I mean, Derrick Henry is different. He is adding a dimension that we have not had before. You go back to Jamal Lewis maybe. This is different, and I’m excited about it. I acknowledge that, [and] we say that, but I can tell you – he’s sitting right here in the room – what he talked about to the team was Thursday night; he talked about Thursday night – ‘Let’s get ready to go Thursday night.'”

Harbaugh was ready to turn the page to Thursday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals, but that doesn’t detract from what Henry has done over the year. He has been phenomenal and will look to continue his momentum as the season marches on.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh on Week 9 win: ‘Our offense came to play’

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said that his team’s offense came to play in Week 9 vs. the Denver Broncos

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Denver Broncos in Week 9 by the final score of 41-10. It was absolute domination for Baltimore, who improved their record to 6-3 in the 2024 season.

One of the many reasons the Ravens won so handily was the stellar play of the team’s offensive unit. Head coach John Harbaugh raved about quarterback Lamar Jackson while saying that his offense came to play in Week 9.

“Yes, Lamar [Jackson] played really good. I believe it’s his fourth [game with a] perfect passer rating, and I believe that’s an NFL record – isn’t it? Tied for the NFL record, OK. I’m betting on Lamar at some point to break it. I thought he played great, but also, the team around him – the pass protection – that’s a really good pass rush team [and] a real aggressive defense [and] a really highly-ranked defense. Our offense came to play as a group.”

Jackson finished the contest going 16-for-19 for 280 yards and three passing touchdowns, making the Denver defense miserable at every turn with his play. He is having a historic season, and the rest of the Ravens offense is following in his footsteps.

Derrick Henry is the unquestioned NFL MVP of 2024 (so far)

Derrick Henry looks unstoppable with the Ravens, even by his high standards.

I’m going to level with you, dearest readers.

When the juggernaut Baltimore Ravens signed perennial Pro Bowler Derrick Henry in the offseason, I did think there would be some potential for fireworks with Lamar Jackson. I just wasn’t that high on a 30-year-old running back with over 2,000 career touches coming into 2024 and still playing like an unstoppable force of nature every week. That kind of mileage is tough to overcome while playing the most physically demanding position in football.

I was wrong. Dead wrong. After watching Henry demoralize the Denver Broncos’ stout defense on Sunday afternoon to the tune of a casual 22 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns, I have no choice but to draw the following conclusion.

If Henry maintains his current unbelievable pace (he probably will), he should be the NFL MVP this year. Don’t let Henry’s classy opinion on the matter be a factor, either:

I know it might be rash to declare someone’s individual season the best they’ve ever seen halfway through a season, but I legitimately can’t remember Henry being better than he is right now. Thanks to a Ravens power rushing attack that emphasizes Henry’s (and Lamar Jackson’s) finest gifts and a high-powered Baltimore passing game, the superstar running back looks more dynamic and imposing than we’ve ever seen.

Here’s what Henry has accomplished in just nine games with the Ravens:

  • He’s the first NFL player ever to score at least one touchdown in each of his first nine games with a new team.
  • He now has seven consecutive seasons with at least 10 touchdowns, tying Adrian Peterson for the second-longest streak of all time.
  • He’s already at 1,052 rushing yards … with nine games to go. That’s right, he’s on pace to become the first running back ever to rush for at least 2,000 yards twice. Barry Sanders, Eric Dickerson, et al., eat your respective hearts out.
  • On top of everything, he’s averaging over six yards a carry. Folks, that is almost the equivalent of an effective downfield passing game by simply stuffing the ball into a running back’s chest.
  • Oh, and with 11 scores in 2024 so far, he’s now just the eighth player ever to score at least 100 career touchdowns.

For all intents and purposes, Henry is having one of the greatest seasons by a running back in NFL history. In 2024. At the near-height of a passing renaissance driven by perhaps the highest floor of quarterback play ever across the league. The Ravens know how to get him downhill, and they know how to optimize him, even in a fashion the Tennessee Titans probably couldn’t fathom.

How do I know this?

The elite Broncos defense started selling out on Henry by putting all 11 defenders in the box, and he still gashed it time and time again. I’ve been watching NFL football for nearly 20 years. I don’t think I’ve seen a running back have his way with a top-of-the-line defense like that. It was jarring to see it happen live.

I know the NFL MVP award has become something of a “best quarterback honor.” And I get it. That position holds so much weight over everything else in this brutal, dangerous game. It’s only natural to give it to the passer who had the finest season sometimes. I can’t begrudge voters for rewarding the most vital position, even if it takes the drama out of the MVP race.

You really have to stand out as a dominant non-passer to get this honor. I do think that’s fair.

But that’s the thing. If there were ever a year to reward the extraordinary effort of a non-quarterback star who has given a possible Super Bowl team another terrifying dimension, it would be 2024. It would be the 6-foot-3, 247-pound Mack Truck who has made his two-time MVP quarterback even more impossible to defend.

It would be Henry, who should be the NFL’s undisputed MVP of this season past its halfway point.

Derrick Henry gave Lamar Jackson a classy endorsement when asked about their MVP battle

Derrick Henry is a great RB and an even better teammate.

Over the last six weeks, arguably, no one has played better football in the NFL than the Baltimore Ravens. And it’s due in large part to their dynamic backfield duo featuring quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry.

Unsurprisingly, Jackson has been an absolute wizard — as he always is — while Henry has fit like a glove working with him in tandem on the Ravens offenses. The two superstars have been so exceptional, in fact, that they both warrant real MVP consideration.

But as Henry told CBS’s Tracy Wolfson after the Ravens’ 41-10 win over the Denver Broncos, he actually thinks Jackson deserves 2024 MVP honors over him. That’s a special running back and an even better teammate right there, folks:

I’m much more inclined to disagree with Henry, as he’s having one of the finest seasons by a running back in NFL history. He’s given the Ravens’ offense a dimension it’s never had before to work perfectly alongside Jackson’s already remarkable ability to create explosive plays out of nothing.

But hey, I won’t begrudge him supporting his quarterback.

Ravens vs. Broncos: Top photos from Baltimore’s 41-10 win in Week 9

Top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 41-10 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 9 at M&T Bank Stadium

Denver entered the game 5-3 with the NFL’s third-ranked defense, but the Baltimore offense shredded them, as Vance Joseph’s defense surrendered 396 yards and five touchdowns on the afternoon.

The Ravens are 6-3 after a 41-10 win over the emerging Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium.

Here are the top photos from the win.

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Lamar Jackson finished with perfect passer rating as Ravens demolish Broncos 41-10

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson finished with a perfect passer rating in Week 10 as the Ravens defeated the Broncos 41-10

The Ravens spent all week talking about removing the taste of an ugly loss to the Browns in Week 8. John Harbaugh’s team responded solidly, dominating the upstart Broncos 41-10 at M&T Bank Stadium.

Denver entered the game 5-3 with the NFL’s third-ranked defense, but the Baltimore offense shredded them, as Vance Joseph’s defense surrendered 396 yards and five touchdowns on the afternoon.

With talk about Josh Allen potentially winning MVP, Jackson completed 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, marking his fourth perfect passer rating.

Derrick Henry finished with 101 yards rushing and two touchdowns, moving past Barry Sanders for 10th on the all-time touchdowns list and going over 1,000 yards for the sixth time in his career.

Zay Flowers had another 100-yard game, finishing with 127 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

On defense, Zach Orr’s unit surrendered 319 yards, including 197 passing and, most importantly, just ten points.

Baltimore will now prepare for Cincinnati on a short week and Amazon’s Thursday Night Football.

WATCH: Derrick Henry passes Barry Sanders for 10th all-time on rushing touchdowns list

Derrick Henry scored the 100th rushing TD of his career, moving into No. 10 all-time on rushing TD list surpassing Barry Sanders (99).

Derrick Henry is a future Hall of Famer and made more NFL history on Sunday afternoon.  The talented running back scored rushing touchdown No. 100 of his career, moving into sole possession of No. 10 on the all-time rushing touchdown leaderboard, surpassing Barry Sanders (99).

Henry becomes the fourth player in NFL history to tally at least ten rushing TDs in seven career seasons, joining LaDainian Tomlinson (nine), Adrian Peterson (eight), and Emmitt Smith (eight). Henry would also become the third player in NFL history to reach the mark in seven consecutive seasons, joining LaDainian Tomlinson (nine from 2001-09) and Adrian Peterson (seven from 2007-13).

Henry, who leads the league in rushing yards (969) and total TDs (12 – 10 rushing & 2 receiving), is just 31 yards shy of his sixth 1,000-yard rushing season. Henry has scored at least one touchdown in all eight games this season, setting a new franchise record for the most consecutive games with a touchdown (previous best was RB Willis McGahee, seven straight, in 2007).

Since last season, Henry has scored at least one touchdown in nine consecutive games, an active streak that ranks second in the NFL, only behind Rams RB Kyren Williams (10 straight).

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