ExtremeRavens Posted 13 hours ago Posted 13 hours ago Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 41-24 win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 17 of the NFL season on Saturday night at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin: Brian Wacker, reporter With Lamar Jackson sidelined with another injury and Baltimore facing a must-win game against the Packers, the Ravens did what they should always do when their best player is out: Lean on their next best player. Derrick Henry obliged, hammering a weakened Packers defense that grew thinner as the game wore on thanks to injuries. Baltimore’s defense nearly let things slip away against the agile Malik Willis, but Henry was too much to handle and Tyler Huntley managed the game well. Now the Ravens must sit back and hope the Browns can beat the Steelers on Sunday. The frustrating part for Ravens fans of course will be … where was this all season in similar situations? The Packers’ defense was decimated, sure, but if Baltimore gets eliminated Sunday there will be a lot of questions about why the Ravens didn’t do more of this sooner. Mike Preston, columnist The Ravens came into the game needing to establish a strong running game, and they did just that as running back Derrick Henry dominated and controlled the pace of the game. The Packers made a run early in the third quarter, but the Ravens were never seriously threatened because Green Bay couldn’t stop Henry. The Ravens still have a lot of questions on defense because they didn’t have much of a pass rush, and the players in the secondary looked confused at times. But they needed a win, and got one. As for the Browns playing AFC North-leading Pittsburgh in Cleveland on Sunday, there isn’t a better losing team to face the Steelers than the Browns. Again, it’s the Browns’ Super Bowl. They’ve got nothing to play for except beating their division rival and setting the stage for the AFC North title game next weekend in Pittsburgh. Josh Tolentino, columnist The Ravens only waited 111 days to put together one of their most dominant performances of the season, headlined by Derrick Henry’s four-touchdown outing in the “Frozen Tundra.” What took so long? The Ravens kept their playoff hopes alive, for at least another 15 hours, by riding Henry’s legs in a must-win game. With Lamar Jackson sidelined, the future Hall of Fame running back carried the ball a career-high 36 times, often outmuscling the Packers with his blinding speed and physical dominance. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken abandoned Henry in last week’s loss to the Patriots, but against the Packers, Monken helped create an assortment of explosive plays on the ground. Baltimore didn’t abandon the necessary game plan, either, as its defense struggled to contain backup quarterback Malik Willis. Henry turns 32 next Sunday. Will he be celebrating with a potential chance at a playoff berth? Or will the Ravens’ hopes fade tomorrow as they await the result from Steelers at Browns? Sam Cohn, reporter Turns out No. 22 is pretty darn good. What a night for Derrick Henry. He’s the focal point of this win, which saved Baltimore’s season for at least a few more hours. Henry reached season highs in both yards (216) and carries (36). But what shouldn’t be lost is Huntley’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Zay Flowers — a clean strike that capped a seven-minute drive and gave the Ravens’ defense some breathing room. Baltimore intercepting Clayton Tune was the knockout punch, even if it’s less impressive against a practice squad quarterback. For at least a few more hours, the Ravens are still breathing. They’ll be clutching pearls, crossing fingers and toes, and praying to any divine figure willing to listen Sunday afternoon when the Steelers play the Browns. Michael Howes, reporter A week after they should have done it, the Ravens finally came through. They leaned on Derrick Henry. Henry rushed a career-high 36 times for 216 yards — his most in a Ravens uniform — along four touchdowns. That relentless pounding powered Baltimore to a must-have win. At times, the game plan felt obvious: give the ball to Henry. And Green Bay still couldn’t stop it. For at least 14 more hours, the Ravens’ season is alive. Baltimore fans now wait on the result of Browns-Steelers to see whether Henry’s masterclass will actually mean something. But the performance raises uncomfortable questions. Why didn’t Baltimore deploy the same approach in the fourth quarter last week? Why had Henry reached 20 or more carries just five times all season entering the game? Is it possible he hasn’t been used enough? Those questions won’t disappear. But for now, the Ravens did what they had to do. The coaching staff seemingly learned from their mistakes and rode their most reliable force when the season demanded it most. C.J. Doon, editor Might this Ravens offense be … better right now with Tyler Huntley? On its face, it sounds like a ridiculous statement. This is two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson we’re talking about replacing here. But look at what Huntley has done this season. In Week 8, with the Ravens’ season hanging by a thread after a 1-5 start, he helped lead a dominant 30-16 win over the Bears while posting a sparkling 90.3 QBR (which takes into account rushing and expected points added). Jackson has eclipsed that mark just twice since Week 1 (including, ironically, when he went down with a back injury against the Patriots last Sunday). On Saturday night, Huntley completed 16 of 20 passes for 107 yards — nothing spectacular, but exactly what was needed to win. Injuries have clearly taken their toll on Jackson. He obviously doesn’t feel comfortable with how his body is feeling right now to suit up for this must-win game. But there’s a difference between playing hurt and playing injured, especially this time of year. (Say what you want about Marlon Humphrey, but he stayed in the game with a fiberglass splint on his hand and made a key interception.) Fair or not, Jackson’s absence will raise questions about his toughness. Huntley’s rushing threat (8 carries for 60 yards) is real. A less-than-100% Jackson? Defenses probably don’t respect him beating them with his legs as much. Derrick Henry was the star Saturday night, but Huntley made some huge scrambles to extend drives. Don’t overlook Huntley’s willingness to make quick throws and keep the offense on schedule, either. Jackson’s willingness to hold the ball is both a blessing and a curse. This makes for a fascinating ending to the regular season. The Ravens are still alive, and Huntley — right here, right now, not next season or beyond — might be the best option if we get a Week 18 AFC North title game. Tim Schwartz, editor This is who the Ravens should be. They smash you in the mouth and Derrick Henry runs through you or around you. An absolute monster performance and one for the ages of Henry, whose four touchdown runs tied a career high (that it’s not a career high says a lot about the future Hall of Famer). His 36 carries were a career high — his 216 yards are a season high — and it’s no coincidence that Baltimore dominated. Where was this all month? Now, we wait for Sunday afternoon to see what plays out with the Steelers, but Ravens fans have to be encouraged that if they get a meaningful Week 18, they’ll see a rushing attack that will be very difficult to stop. Bennett Conlin, editor Where was that offense all season? The Ravens looked great, as Monken was forced to use Henry with Jackson sidelined. Henry ran for over 200 yards as the Packers didn’t have answers for the bruising back. Huntley played well in relief of Jackson, too. The entire offense played at an elite level for 60 minutes against a banged-up Green Bay defense. The defense was shaky, but it did enough to come away with a victory. The offense carried the day, and Zach Orr’s unit didn’t completely let them down. But is it too late? If the Steelers take care of business Sunday against the lowly Browns, Baltimore’s postseason chances are gone. Ravens fans need to pray for an AFC North miracle for Week 18 to matter. Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article Quote
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