All season long, Baltimore Ravens fans have been begging the team to properly utilize Derrick Henry. This reached another level when Henry wasn't on the field for the final two drives against the New England Patriots during a Week 16 loss.
Regardless, during a season-saving win against the Green Bay Packers last week, we all saw how powerful a high-usage Henry is -- he recorded 216 yards on 36 carries and four touchdowns. Thankfully, the Ravens seem to have learned their lesson and are ready to unleash Henry again.
On Thursday, offensive coordinator Todd Monken mentioned his role in keeping Henry on the field even when he was getting burned out. Given this, it's fair to expect that Henry will be the centerpiece of the Ravens' offense again.
"There were a couple of those when he was tapping out, and I was like, no, no. Get him back in there. I've been through that. Get his [butt] back in there," Monken said.
Henry seems poised for another big game
With the season on the line, it would be foolish if the Ravens didn't unleash Henry on Sunday against their division rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. It's stunning that it's taken the Ravens so long, but they seem to be finally realizing the immense power of Henry, especially late in the year.
Of course, a heavy diet of Henry doesn't guarantee a Ravens win, but it certainly increases their chances. Baltimore is finally taking advantage of Henry, plus they have Lamar Jackson back in the fold, and DK Metcalf is out for the Steelers. As a result, the stars seem to be aligning for the Ravens to win and make the playoffs after a rollercoaster season.
When the Ravens played the Steelers back in December, Henry had a productive outing, rushing for 95 yards on 25 attempts. This marked his second-highest usage game of the season. Even still, the Ravens could have used him more in the red zone.
Henry has proven he can dominate the Steelers. Last season, he rushed for 413 yards in the Ravens' three meetings (including the playoffs against Pittsburgh). His 186-yard performance in the playoffs was the high point.
Pittsburgh superstar T.J. Watt has missed the last three weeks with a collapsed lung. While is ready to return, Watt's injury could further pave the way for a massive Henry game. Additionally, this is far from a classic Steelers defense as they give up 365.8 yards per game, which ranks just 27th in the league. The Ravens must take advantage of this and play to their main strength with Henry.
Even with some clear advantages that the Ravens have, a win against their division rivals will never be a guarantee. However, by giving Henry a big role, they are putting themselves in the best possible position to win and thus make the playoffs.