Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson might win his third MVP award after his spectacular 2024 season. Nonetheless, he nonetheless isn’t the important thing to the Ravens getting again to the AFC Championship Sport with a victory on Jan. 19.
At the least that’s what former Ravens star and Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame security Ed Reed recommended when he referred to as operating again Derrick Henry “a queen on the chess board.”
Derrick Henry Key to Ravens Beating Buffalo Payments?
“You possibly can’t lose that chess piece, and now that you just’ve acquired it, you’ve acquired to put it to use,” Reed informed ESPN’s Christine Williamson. “You’ve acquired to make the most of that piece to its highest potential.”
Based mostly on how Henry performed the final time the Ravens confronted the Payments, it’s onerous to disagree with Reed’s evaluation. Henry rushed for a season-high 199 yards with one landing in Week 4 versus Buffalo. Behind Henry’s outing, the Ravens routed the Payments 35-10.
Whereas that was Henry’s greatest efficiency of 2024, he skilled an incredible season general, dashing for 1,921 yards and a league-high 16 touchdowns. He averaged a career-high 5.9 yards per rush.
A giant cause why was that opposing defenses needed to be involved with stopping each Henry and Jackson in Baltimore’s backfield. Jackson turned the NFL’s all-time main rusher amongst quarterbacks this season.
Within the AFC Wild Card Spherical, the Pittsburgh Steelers prioritized stopping Henry on the run-option. That enabled Jackson to transform simple first downs early within the contest.
After the Steelers adjusted a few of their defenders to Jackson, operating lanes opened for Henry. The 31-year-old operating again gashed the Steelers for a 44-yard landing within the third quarter.
“Within the midst of these carries, one or two of them are going to interrupt since you don’t need to cease a prepare all day,” added Reed. “I like that we now have these two within the backfield in looking to get a Tremendous Bowl. I wouldn’t need to have another two within the backfield.”
“It is a queen on the chess board. … You bought to make the most of that piece to its highest potential.”
Ed Reed on Derrick Henry being a key element for the Ravens ♟️ @itsthebaldgirl pic.twitter.com/GTW2zbf0gc
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 16, 2025
Henry rushed for 186 yards within the 28-14 playoff victory versus the Steelers. That was his second-highest dashing complete of the season behind solely his efficiency versus the Payments.
Ravens Wanting To Keep away from 2024 Playoff Mistake
Baltimore didn’t have Henry on its roster final yr. However the Ravens nonetheless had the NFL’s No. 1 dashing assault throughout the 2023 common season. Jackson led the workforce in dashing with 821 yards, however operating again Gus Edwards wasn’t far behind with 810 yards. Edwards additionally scored 13 touchdowns in 2023.
However within the AFC Championship Sport towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, the Ravens solely had 16 dashing makes an attempt. In the meantime, Jackson threw 37 passes.
Jackson has improved as a passer throughout his NFL profession. In 2024, Jackson completed first in PFN’s QB+ metric, with a 100.0 grade throughout the common season. Jackson posted that grade with a career-high 41 passing touchdowns and a career-low 4 interceptions.
Nonetheless, the Ravens don’t need to repeat their offensive mistake from final yr’s AFC Championship Sport and get away from what they do greatest, operating the ball.
Baltimore was each first in dashing yards and yards per carry in 2024. The Ravens have been additionally sixth in dashing touchdowns. They gained 298 yards on the bottom within the AFC Wild Card Spherical.
The Ravens will go to the Payments within the AFC Divisional Spherical on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for six:30 p.m. ET.
