The Baltimore Ravens have long been without a top-tier running back to complement Lamar Jackson, with only Mark Ingram and the occasionally effective J.K. Dobbins filling the void while dealing with injuries. Enter Derrick Henry, who demonstrated on Sunday night that he still has plenty to offer at 30 years old.
Henry kicked off the game with an impressive 87-yard touchdown run, paving the way for a dominant 35-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills. He totaled 199 rushing yards on 24 carries, following a strong performance the prior week against the Cowboys where he rushed for 151 yards. Despite his age, Henry is showing he remains in prime condition.
During the offseason, Henry expressed interest in signing with the Dallas Cowboys, but they claimed they couldn’t accommodate the star running back’s salary. The Ravens, however, are grateful that the situation unfolded differently.
Henry brings a dynamic to the Ravens’ offense that it has not previously experienced. Should the Ravens return to the playoffs, Henry could ease the burden that often falls on Jackson’s shoulders.
Making history on his first play of the game, Henry slipped through his blockers and sprinted for 87 yards, marking the longest run in Ravens history. With this touchdown, he became the first player to hold the longest run record for two different franchises, with his 99-yard run for the Tennessee Titans tied for the longest in NFL history.
Henry scored again on a 5-yard pass from Jackson, extending the Ravens’ lead to 14-3. While the Bills had a strong start to the season, they faltered significantly in week four against the Ravens.
Strategically, the Bills made questionable decisions to punt on fourth down twice, which allowed the Ravens to capitalize with scoring drives. This conservative play from Bills head coach Sean McDermott ultimately undermined his team’s chances.
The Bills appeared to gain some momentum in the second half with a 52-yard pass from Josh Allen setting up a touchdown. However, a turnover caused by Allen was swiftly exploited by the Ravens, with Jackson rushing for another touchdown that restored an 18-point lead.
Even when Henry made an error, luck favored the Ravens. After a significant 38-yard run, he fumbled as he approached the end zone, but fullback Patrick Ricard recovered to score, finalizing the score at 35-10.
One of the Ravens’ earlier struggles this season stemmed from not utilizing Henry more frequently, particularly in their loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Since then, he has decimated both the Cowboys and the Bills, affirming that he can handle a heavy workload.
With Henry in the backfield, the Ravens’ offense has transformed. Last season’s weakness during their AFC championship game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs was their neglect of the running game, a mistake they appear determined to avoid moving forward. With Henry, a potential future Hall of Famer, the Ravens have turned a corner to become a more formidable team.