Tag: Derrick Henry

Sorry, Baltimore: Steelers know exactly how to stop Derrick Henry

Pittsburgh has consistently contained Derrick Henry, with wins over him in 2017, 2020, and 2023—a testament to their resilience.

King Henry may rule in Baltimore, but he has bowed several times to the impressive display of determination and resilience that the Steel City represents. The Pittsburgh Steelers have faced a Derrick Henry-led offense three times during his career—in 2017, 2020, and 2023—and emerged victorious each time.

In 2017, the Pittsburgh defense limited Henry to 32 rushing yards on 7 attempts. In 2020—a season many consider one of the greatest by a running back, with Henry averaging 5.4 yards per carry on 378 attempts, rushing for 2,027 yards, and scoring 17 rushing touchdowns—the Steelers once again tamed the king in their Week 7 matchup with the Titans, holding him to just 75 yards on 20 attempts. When the teams met again in 2023, Pittsburgh held Henry to the same 75 rushing yards.

The Baltimore-based king is one of the greatest running backs of his era, but his lack of production speaks volumes about HC Mike Tomlin’s ability to scheme effectively and prevent him from taking over the game. While Henry is an elite player in the NFL, make no mistake: just like the Baltimore Ravens over the past few seasons, Pittsburgh will have his number once again in Week 11.

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Mike Tomlin overlooked ex-Steeler Diontae Johnson for the Ravens’ real playmakers

Mike Tomlin wasn’t roasting Diontae Johnson. He was just stating a fact.

I know we live in a hyper-competitive society that yearns for morsels of drama and pettiness the same way a humble dog begs for dry, probably tasteless kibble when dinner is approximately two minutes late, but let’s not turn Mike Tomlin’s recent comments about former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson into something they’re not.

Let’s be better than that.

On Tuesday, with the Steelers set to host the rival Baltimore Ravens in a battle for AFC North supremacy this Sunday, Tomlin was asked for his thoughts about game-planning for Johnson now that he plays in Baltimore.

Tomlin answered the question very matter-of-factly. He’s not thinking much about Johnson, if at all. Why? First of all, he’s not trying to roast the veteran because he used to coach him. It’s just that the Ravens have two MVP candidates (reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and superstar running back Derrick Henry) along with explosive receiver Zay Flowers, among others.

Johnson has caught one pass for six yards in two games since getting traded to the Ravens at midseason. Why on Earth would Tomlin devote any notable energy to him right now with arguably the greatest backfield in NFL history awaiting the Pittsburgh defense?

Asking Tomlin whether he’s worried about the Ravens’ seventh-best playmaker is the equivalent of asking an opposing head coach if they’re worried about the New England Patriots’ third-string tight end with prime Tom Brady and Randy Moss coming to town. It’s like asking someone if they’re thinking about the Chicago Bulls’ 10th man in their rotation as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen bear down on them.

And of course everyone immediately reads into Tomlin dismissing Johnson’s skill-set as some matter of petty disrespect only because he used to play for him. What? C’mon now. The man is simply being honest.

You (a royal you) should know better than that.

Are the Ravens set to unveil a three-headed monster at RB position?

John Harbaugh says the Baltimore Ravens will now have “a little bit of a three-headed monster” at running back position with Keaton Mitchell back

The Baltimore Ravens have Derrick Henry plowing towards a potential 2,000-yard season, and they’re set to add another horse to the stable.

After being out since last January, Keaton Mitchell returned to the lineup in Week 9, logging a handful of snaps in the Ravens win over the Bengals. Mitchell’s role will increase, and during his Monday news conference, head coach John Harbaugh hinted at a “three-headed monster” at the running back position.

Derrick Henry has 1,120 rushing yards, while Justice Hill has done most of his damage in the passing game, logging 27 catches for 272 yards and two touchdowns on the season. There’s only so much football to go around, and Mitchell could assume the role of a home run hitter and dual-treat in the passing game.

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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.