Ravens Vs Steelers: Henry And Jackson Lead Baltimore To Wild-Card Victory

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens promised their fans they brought in Derrick Henry for moments like these, and boy, did he deliver. On a chilly Saturday night in front of a roaring home crowd, the Ravens vs Steelers matchup lived up to its rivalry status, with Baltimore dominating their AFC North foe, winning 28-14 in the wild-card round. Powered by a relentless running game and clutch plays from quarterback Lamar Jackson, Baltimore proved they’re serious contenders this postseason.

Derrick Henry was the star of the show, showing everyone he’s still got it at 31 years old. The Pro Bowl running back ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns, breaking the Ravens’ playoff record for rushing yards in a single game. Along with Jackson’s 82 yards on the ground, the Ravens totaled an eye-popping 298 rushing yards—a franchise postseason record.

The win sends Baltimore to the divisional round for the third time in five years. Who they play next depends on Sunday’s game between the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos. If the Bills win, the Ravens head to Buffalo. If Denver pulls off an upset, Baltimore will host the Houston Texans.

Henry and Jackson Take Over

Even without top wide receiver Zay Flowers, who missed the game with a knee injury, the Ravens offense didn’t miss a beat. Henry picked up the slack, reminding everyone why Baltimore brought him on board this season. He was explosive, fast, and powerful, with one play standing out: a 44-yard touchdown run where he hit 20.6 mph, according to NFL stats. That kind of speed and dominance is rare, especially for a player his age.

Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson showed off his dual-threat skills. After running less during the regular season, Jackson turned the Steelers’ aggression against them. They focused so hard on stopping Henry that Jackson found plenty of room to run, racking up 82 yards on 14 carries. His performance made history—he now holds the record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL postseason history, passing Steve Young.

A Strong Start Sets the Tone

Baltimore made a statement right from the opening drive. For the first time in his playoff career, Jackson led the Ravens to a touchdown on their first possession. And it wasn’t just any drive—it was a marathon 95-yard march over 13 plays, capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rashod Bateman. The Ravens are undefeated this season when Bateman scores, and this drive gave them early momentum they never relinquished.

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This win was particularly sweet for Baltimore, as it marked their second straight victory over Pittsburgh, something they hadn’t done since 2019. Beating their biggest rival in the playoffs made the victory even more emotional.

Steelers Stumble—Again

For the Steelers, this game was a harsh reminder of their recent playoff struggles. Despite major changes to their roster and one of the NFL’s most expensive defenses, Pittsburgh once again failed to make it past the first round. This is their fifth one-and-done postseason appearance since 2017.

The loss also capped a disappointing end to what started as a promising season. After a 10-3 start, the Steelers lost five straight games, including this playoff defeat. Worse, they never held a lead in any of those losses.

Saturday night’s game followed a familiar pattern for Pittsburgh: a disastrous first half, followed by a glimmer of hope in the third quarter, and then a rally that came up short. By halftime, the Steelers were down 21-0, their second-largest playoff deficit ever. They scored twice in the third quarter to cut Baltimore’s lead to 14 points but couldn’t get any closer.

Source: Jackson, Henry dominate in Ravens’ wild-card win over Steelers

Missed Opportunities and Defensive Woes

One of the most frustrating moments for Steelers fans came in the second quarter. Facing 4th-and-inches, head coach Mike Tomlin chose to punt instead of going for it. The decision backfired spectacularly. Baltimore responded with an 85-yard touchdown drive, all on the ground, to extend their lead to 14-0. It was a demoralizing sequence that seemed to take the fight out of Pittsburgh.

Defensively, the Steelers had one main goal: stop Derrick Henry. They failed. Not only did Henry run wild, but Jackson also took advantage of Pittsburgh’s aggressive approach, punishing them with read-option runs. By halftime, Baltimore had racked up 164 rushing yards, including 75 yards by Jackson before he was even touched by a defender. The Ravens’ offensive line dominated, opening up huge running lanes all night.

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A Slow Start Proves Costly

If there’s one consistent issue for the Steelers, it’s their inability to start games strong. This season, they were one of the few teams that didn’t score a touchdown on their opening drive. That trend continued on Saturday. Over their past five losses, the Steelers have been outscored 81-37 in the first half. It’s a troubling pattern that extends to their playoff history as well. In their last six postseason losses, they’ve been outscored by a combined 96 points in the first half. Simply put, they’ve been digging themselves into holes they can’t climb out of.

Ravens vs Steelers: Henry and Jackson Lead Baltimore to Wild-Card Victory

What’s Next for Both Teams?

For the Ravens, this win is a huge confidence boost. Derrick Henry has shown he’s still a game-changer, and Lamar Jackson continues to prove why he’s one of the NFL’s most dynamic players. They’ll need to keep up this level of play as the competition gets tougher, especially if they face the Bills in Buffalo.

On the other hand, the Steelers have a lot of soul-searching to do. Despite being one of the league’s most successful franchises, they haven’t won a playoff game in eight years. Their slow starts, defensive lapses, and missed opportunities have become all too common. This offseason will be crucial for Pittsburgh as they try to figure out how to break this cycle and get back to being true contenders.

The Big Picture

Saturday night’s game highlighted two teams heading in very different directions. The Ravens look like a team on a mission, with the pieces in place to make a deep playoff run. Meanwhile, the Steelers are stuck in a frustrating loop, unable to translate regular-season success into postseason wins.

For Baltimore fans, the dream of a Super Bowl run is alive and well. For Pittsburgh, it’s another painful ending to a season that started with so much promise. As the Ravens gear up for the divisional round, the Steelers head into the offseason with more questions than answers.