Ravens steamroll Broncos 41-10 to strengthen AFC playoff position
By Matt Sidney
The Baltimore Ravens rebounded in a major way in Week 9, putting on an absolute clinic in a 41-10 drubbing of the Denver Broncos. After a tough loss to Cleveland last week, Baltimore wasted no time re-establishing themselves, firing on all cylinders from the first snap to the final whistle.
Lamar Jackson led the charge with surgical precision, completing 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns, all without turning the ball over. Jackson’s 158.3 perfect passer rating showed he was dialed in and laser-focused.
Derrick Henry provided his usual bruising support on the ground, rumbling for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, pushing his career total to an impressive milestone of 100 rushing touchdowns.
Baltimore’s receiving corps was equally explosive. Zay Flowers continued his breakout season, torching Denver’s secondary with 127 yards and two touchdowns on just five catches, including a 53-yard score. Justice Hill, Mark Andrews, and Rashod Bateman also contributed with key receptions that kept the Broncos’ defense off-balance all game.
On the defensive side, the Ravens' secondary, which struggled last week, delivered a much stronger performance. Denver’s quarterback, Bo Nix, was held to just 223 yards passing, and the Ravens snagged an interception while sacking him four times.
This stifling pass defense helped Baltimore contain Denver's passing attack and limit them to only one garbage-time touchdown.
Updated AFC playoff picture and standings after Week 9
Following the win, the Ravens improved to 6-3 and now sit firmly in fifth place in the AFC playoff race, positioning them well as the season pushes toward the second half.
- Kansas City Chiefs (8-0)
- Buffalo Bills (7-2)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
- Houston Texans (6-3)
- Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
- Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
- Denver Broncos (5-4)
With this Week 9 victory, Baltimore would now face the Texans in a Wild Card matchup if the season ended today. It'd be a rematch of last season's divisional round playoff game.
Around the AFC, other contenders kept the heat on. Kansas City remains undefeated with a 30-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bills snuck past the Dolphins 30-27 with a late-game field goal, holding steady in the two-seed. The Texans suffered a disappointing 21-13 loss to the Jets, but remain atop the AFC South. The Chargers held off the struggling Browns with a 27-10 victory to stay in the sixth spot. And the Bengals roared back to life, demolishing the Raiders 41-24 and keeping a glimmer of hope alive for a playoff run despite their 4-5 record.
The AFC North is shaping up to be a dogfight. With the Steelers off on a bye, Baltimore's win inches them closer to a potential divisional lead. The Bengals also kept themselves in the conversation by thrashing Las Vegas, making the North one of the most contested divisions in the league.
With their Week 9 win, the Ravens head into the back half of the season with momentum, but there’s little room for error. A looming rematch with the Browns, plus games against the Bengals and Steelers, means that Baltimore will need to keep improving to lock down a playoff spot. The trade deadline on November 5 is fast approaching, and with the Ravens’ secondary issues lingering, a last-minute addition could solidify their position in this stacked AFC.
For now, though, Ravens fans can savor a much-needed win that shows just how dangerous this team can be when everything clicks.
More Ravens news and analysis
feed