Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens’ rushing attack haven’t been the best over the last two weeks. During that stretch, King Henry has rushed for 162 yards on 49 carries: a very underwhelming 3.3 yards per carry. And, unfortunately, Baltimore faces the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5.
Statistically, there’s not a better run defense than the Falcons this year. It’s not even close — they’re far and away the best unit in that department. Just look at these unreal numbers.
CATEGORY | STAT | RANK |
|---|---|---|
Rushing yards allowed | 193 | 1st |
Yards per carry allowed | 2.7 (!) | 1st |
Rushing TDs allowed | 2 | tied for 6th |
20+ yard runs allowed | 0 | tied for 1st |
Longest run allowed | 17 yards | tied for 2nd. |
That’s truly insane. Now in the midst of a cold stretch, Henry has to try and bounce back against that ferocious unit.
Baltimore Ravens and Derrick Henry have a ton stacked against them
The Falcons have drawn some favorable rushing matchups. Three of their four opponents through four weeks haven’t eclipsed 100 rushing yards per game this year: the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Ravens will be Atlanta’s biggest test so far, but it won’t be easy. The numbers are undeniable.
Thankfully, Derrick Henry is still Derrick Henry. That’s how Baltimore has been rolling this year, especially in the red zone. He’s fourth in the NFL in rushing yards with 374 and is tied for first in rushing touchdowns with 7. He’s going to get it done regardless of the two-week “slump.”
However, there are some significant worries. It really starts with the offensive line.
Whether it be a Henry problem, an offensive line problem, or both, the Ravens have been agonizingly inefficient in short-yardage situations. They just haven’t been able to create enough when defenses stack the box.
Atlanta might stack the box more than ever, too. If Lamar Jackson can’t play, Tyler Huntley will start at quarterback. Huntley’s been accurate; his arm talent doesn’t really threaten defenses deep, though. That’ll allow Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to play condensed coverage, stack the box, and force Huntley to beat them with his arm.
If you’re Derrick Henry, that won’t present many favorable situations. The Ravens will rely on him a lot, and he’ll be the focal point of the offense all day. However, if Huntley can’t stretch the defense out, it might be tough for Henry to find a rhythm.
Atlanta Falcons defense paints a dreary picture for Derrick Henry
Atlanta also has enough talent in the middle to wreck Declan Doyle’s game plan. Gervon Dexter Jr. and Brandon Dorlus could find consistent wins no matter if it’s a pass or run play. That duo is a problem.
With Vega Ioane expected to start at center and Andrew Vorhees or Emery Jones Jr. playing right guard for at least one game before new acquisition Cam Jurgens puts on the pads, the offensive line faces even more trouble. The Falcons have a clear edge in the trenches.
Yes, the Ravens’ line did well last week, but that was against the Tennessee Titans and their bottom-10 run defense. Atlanta’s run defense is almost pitching a perfect game to start the year. Baltimore’s offensive front must come to play to keep things competitive.
To beat the Falcons? It’ll come down to those stretch run plays. We’ve seen Henry find a lot of success on those — when he gets out in space and builds a full head of steam, he’s almost impossible to tackle. Baltimore’s blocking downfield when Doyle dials those up has been stellar, as well.
Unfortunately, it won’t be that easy. Ulbrich has plenty of weapons who can fly to the football like Xavier Watts, Divine Deablo, and Harold Perkins Jr. You best believe they’ll force Henry to fight for every inch.
We’ll have to wait and see how it plays out, but Derrick Henry certainly has his work cut out for him.
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