For years, the Baltimore Ravens’ playoff losses shared a common theme: Lamar Jackson carrying the offense on his back while defenses keyed in, leaving Baltimore without a reliable counterpunch.
On Saturday night, that narrative shifted in a big way. Derrick Henry, the crown jewel of Baltimore’s offseason moves, delivered the performance that Ravens fans and brass had been dreaming of when they signed him in the offseason.
ESPN Research: Derrick Henry has now tied Jim Brown for the most games with 150 rush yards and 2 rushing touchdowns in NFL history, regular season and postseason combined (13)
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) January 12, 2025
Henry bulldozed the Pittsburgh Steelers for 186 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries, opening up Baltimore’s offense and taking a significant load off Jackson’s shoulders. The Ravens’ 28-14 Wild Card victory wasn’t just a statement win—it was a clinic in complementary football, spearheaded by Henry’s bruising style and the offensive line’s dominance.
By the time Henry broke free for a 44-yard third-quarter touchdown, Pittsburgh’s defense looked like a team that wanted nothing more than to avoid contact. It was vintage Derrick Henry—setting the tone early, punishing defenders, and putting the Ravens in a position where Jackson didn’t have to play hero ball to advance to the Divisional Round.
Derrick Henry is changing the Lamar Jackson playoff narrative
This was why Baltimore went all-in to acquire Henry. His presence gives the Ravens a dimension they’ve been missing in previous playoff runs. When Henry gets going, defenses have to commit extra resources to stop him. That opens up lanes for Jackson in the run game and gives him more favorable matchups in the passing attack.
Against the Steelers, Henry’s impact was immediate. On Baltimore’s first drive, he took a direct snap for 34 yards, setting up a touchdown pass from Jackson to Rashod Bateman. It was a tone-setter, and the Ravens never looked back.
With Henry battering Pittsburgh’s front seven, Jackson operated efficiently, finishing 16-of-21 for 175 yards and two touchdowns. The Ravens methodically moved the ball downfield, chewing up clock and keeping the Steelers’ defense on its heels. Baltimore’s offensive line deserves plenty of credit too, as they consistently opened holes for Henry while keeping Jackson upright against one of the league’s better pass-rushing duos in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
The result was an offense that felt inevitable. Baltimore dominated time of possession, racked up 299 rushing yards, and forced Pittsburgh into a game script they weren’t equipped to handle.
While the Ravens celebrated one of their best playoff performances in years, the Steelers spent the night unraveling. Pittsburgh came into this game riding a four-game losing streak, and by halftime, the fanbase was already calling for Mike Tomlin’s job.
Trailing 21-0 at the break, the Steelers were lifeless. They had just 63 total yards, couldn’t run the ball, and offered little resistance defensively. By the time Henry tore through the heart of Pittsburgh’s defense in the third quarter, the writing was on the wall.
This isn’t just about one game. It’s about years of playoff futility under Tomlin. The Steelers haven’t won a postseason game since 2016, and Saturday night felt like the culmination of all that frustration. While Tomlin’s streak of non-losing regular seasons is admirable, it doesn’t mean much when you’re getting embarrassed by your biggest rival in January.
For the Ravens, this was everything they wanted. Henry’s presence brings a physicality and consistency to Baltimore’s offense that takes tons of pressure off Jackson. This was exactly the kind of performance the Ravens envisioned when they brought him in—a playoff tone-setter that can travel, regardless of weather or opponent.
With Jackson looking sharp, Henry in peak form, and a defense playing some of its best football of the season, Baltimore looks poised for a deep postseason run. Whether they head to Buffalo or host Houston next week, the Ravens now have a championship-caliber formula.
For years, the criticism has been that Jackson couldn’t shine in January because he was asked to do too much. Henry changes that equation. With the star running back going for nearly 200 yards, Jackson can focus on being the dynamic, efficient quarterback he’s built to be. Lamar simply played like Lamar, and it was more than enough. If this is the new Ravens playoff blueprint, Lamar’s postseason narrative is about to get a major rewrite.