How on earth do the Baltimore Ravens leave Derrick Henry on the sideline during the most critical two-point conversion of their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Late in the fourth quarter against the Steelers, the Ravens faced a do-or-die situation, needing a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie the game and force overtime. With 1:06 left on the clock, Lamar Jackson connected with Zay Flowers for a 16-yard touchdown, narrowing the gap to 18-16.
Needing a two-point conversion to tie the game, the Ravens would certainly trot out Henry, right? They would be smart enough to put the best running back in the league two yards away from the endzone, right? You know, the player who now has 15 rushing touchdowns on the season.
Assume all you'd like, but you'd be wrong.
Baltimore Ravens leave Derrick Henry on the sideline for crucial two-point conversion
Leaving Derrick Henry off the field for the most important play of the game is simply inexcusable.
What makes it even worse is that the Ravens had a chance to correct their mistake. After the Steelers called a timeout before the initial attempt, Baltimore had an opportunity to rethink the decision and put Henry in. Instead, they doubled down on the error, leaving their best option on the sideline when it mattered most.
Unfortunately, they didn't.
Lamar Jackson connected with Zay Flowers for a *potential* game-tying TD…
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 17, 2024
And then the Steelers DENIED the 2-pt conversion 😤 Steelers lead the Ravens 18-16 with a minute to go.
pic.twitter.com/vSjJT2kaGJ
The Ravens’ 18-16 loss to the Steelers will sting for a while, and the decision to leave Derrick Henry on the sideline for the game-deciding two-point conversion will be one of the key reasons why. Baltimore unnecessarily overcomplicated what should have been a straightforward decision. When you have one of the best power backs in NFL history, and he’s been effective all season, you put the ball in his hands two yards from the end zone.
Instead, the Ravens trusted Lamar Jackson to make a play in what became a broken attempt, with Jackson running left and coming up well short. It was a moment that perfectly encapsulated Baltimore’s inability to finish on Sunday - a theme that plagued them throughout the game. Missed field goals by Justin Tucker, costly turnovers, and questionable decisions all added up to a frustrating missed opportunity in a pivotal AFC North clash.
For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, these are the moments that must go differently. Leaving points on the field and sidelining your best players in crucial situations can’t happen against top-tier competition.
The Ravens will now need to regroup as they prepare for the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football. But as they do, the question will linger: why wasn’t Derrick Henry given the chance to do what he was brought to Baltimore to do?