Derrick Henry made a noteworthy debut with the Baltimore Ravens by scoring the first touchdown of the 2024 NFL season during the opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. The two-time rushing champion, who joined the Ravens following eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans, marked his transition to the team with a five-yard touchdown run on the very first drive of Thursday’s game.
The opening drive was heavily reliant on Henry, consisting of 11 plays that covered 70 yards. He carried the ball five times, accumulating 17 rushing yards. Overall, Henry recorded 13 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Lamar Jackson led the Ravens with 122 yards on 16 carries.
This performance suggests that the Ravens plan to utilize Henry frequently this season, forming a potent running combination with Jackson. However, the Ravens ultimately fell to the Chiefs in a closely contested 27-20 match that ended dramatically on the final play.
Despite a somewhat disorganized first drive that included three illegal formation penalties, the Ravens managed to secure three first downs before reaching the end zone. Kansas City quickly responded with a scoring drive of its own, highlighted by a 21-yard touchdown run from rookie Xavier Worthy on his first NFL touch.
The Chiefs entered halftime with a 13-10 lead and maintained it. The Ravens’ attempt to level the score in the closing moments was thwarted when a potential touchdown by Isaiah Likely was deemed out of bounds in the back of the end zone.