Henry’s 3 touchdowns keep Ravens alive as Texans secure playoff place

Derrick Henry delivered one of the most dominant rushing performances of the NFL season as the Baltimore Ravens kept their playoff hopes alive with a 41–24 win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night.

Henry ran for a season high 216 yards and equalled a career best with four rushing touchdowns. His final score, a 25 yard burst with 1:56 remaining, sealed the victory and capped a historic night. It was his seventh career 200 yard rushing game, moving him past Adrian Peterson and OJ Simpson for the most in league history. His 36 carries were also a personal best.

Baltimore Ravens improved to 8–8 but remain dependent on results elsewhere. They need the AFC North leading Pittsburgh Steelers to lose at Cleveland on Sunday to keep their season alive. If that happens, Baltimore would have the chance to win the division by beating Pittsburgh away on 4 January.

Green Bay Packers fell to 9–6–1 and suffered a third straight defeat. The loss allowed the Chicago Bears to clinch the NFC North title, although Green Bay had already secured a playoff berth earlier in the week following Detroit’s loss at Minnesota.

Henry dominates from the outset

Both teams were without their starting quarterbacks. Baltimore rested Lamar Jackson due to a back injury, while Green Bay’s Jordan Love remained in concussion protocol. Their replacements played efficiently in a game that featured just one punt.

Baltimore’s Tyler Huntley completed 16 of 20 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. Green Bay’s Malik Willis was outstanding, going 18 of 21 for a career high 288 yards with one passing touchdown, while also rushing for 60 yards and two scores. Willis later left the game after aggravating a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter.

The decisive factor was Green Bay’s inability to contain Henry, who powered the Ravens to a 307–79 rushing advantage.

After criticism over Henry’s limited fourth quarter usage in last week’s collapse against New England, Baltimore made a clear statement by feeding him relentlessly. He scored on each of the Ravens’ first two possessions with short touchdown runs and added a third with 10 seconds left in the first half as Baltimore built a 27–14 lead. The Ravens scored on their first five drives against a Packers defense that had not allowed more than 24 points in 14 straight home games.

Green Bay briefly rallied by winning the third quarter 10–0. Brandon McManus kicked a short field goal before Willis ran in from 11 yards to cut the deficit to 27–24.

Baltimore responded immediately. Henry’s nine yard run on third down and a 30 yard sprint to close the quarter set up Huntley’s 10 yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers early in the fourth.

Willis then exited with injury after driving into Baltimore territory. Backup Clayton Tune’s lone pass was intercepted by Marlon Humphrey, and Henry later added his fourth touchdown to finish the contest.

Texans clinch third straight playoff berth

Elsewhere on Saturday, the Houston Texans secured a place in the postseason with a 20–16 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Houston Texans improved to 11–5 and clinched a third consecutive playoff berth for the first time in franchise history. The victory was their eighth in a row, the longest winning streak since 2018.

Los Angeles Chargers also sit at 11–5 but saw their four game winning run end. The loss handed the AFC West title to Denver and denied the Chargers a chance to force a winner take all showdown in Week 18.

CJ Stroud set the tone immediately, throwing touchdown passes on Houston’s first two drives. On the opening play, he found Jayden Higgins for a 75 yard score after a coverage breakdown. Moments later, Jaylin Noel hauled in a 43 yard touchdown, again without a defender in sight.

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The Chargers had allowed only one touchdown pass of 40 yards or more in their previous 15 games.

Stroud completed his first six passes and finished 16 of 28 for 244 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Houston’s defense also made an early impact, sacking Justin Herbert on third down on the Chargers’ first two possessions and forcing three early three and outs.

Herbert, playing with a broken non throwing hand, threw for 236 yards with one touchdown and one interception while being sacked five times.

Los Angeles struggled to capitalise on turnovers. Derwin James Jr intercepted Stroud in the second quarter but the Chargers managed only a field goal. A second interception deep in Houston territory again produced no points.

Azeez Al Shaair picked off Herbert at the Houston one yard line late in the first half after the ball deflected off Oronde Gadsden’s hands. Cameron Dicker then missed a short field goal just before halftime, leaving the Chargers trailing 14–3.

Houston extended the lead with two Ka’imi Fairbairn field goals. A late touchdown run by Omarion Hampton cut the margin to four, but Dicker missed the extra point, his first such miss of the season, to end the Chargers’ comeback hopes.

The Texans held on to secure a landmark playoff achievement and maintain momentum heading into the final weeks of the regular season.