Derrick Henry rushed for 186 yards and two scores and Lamar Jackson passed for two touchdowns to lead the host Baltimore Ravens to a 28-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC wild-card game on Saturday night.
Jackson completed 16 of 21 passes for 175 yards and rushed for 81 yards on 15 carries while winning for the third time in seven attempts as a postseason starter. Rashod Bateman and Justice Hill had touchdown receptions for third-seeded Baltimore, which has won five straight games and will learn its next opponent on Sunday.
Henry, who carried 26 times, rushed for more than 150 yards for the fourth time in eight career playoff appearances. His postseason high of 195 came against the Ravens in the 2019 season divisional round when he was a member of the Tennessee Titans.
“Derrick Henry was running hard and physical,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “Lamar started it off. He carried the ball at different times in the first drive or two. We get the ball at the 5-yard line and we go 95 yards for a touchdown. Whatever adversity you’re faced with — overcome it.”
Russell Wilson was 20 of 29 for 270 yards and two touchdowns for sixth-seeded Pittsburgh, which trailed by 21 points twice while losing its fifth consecutive game. George Pickens had five catches for 87 yards and a touchdown and Van Jefferson also had a scoring reception for the Steelers.
“I’m worried less about the regular season,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of the losing streak that began in the regular season. “We’re in a single-elimination tournament and I’m really disappointed how we performed tonight given the opportunity we had.”
The Ravens totaled 299 rushing yards and outgained Pittsburgh 464-280. Baltimore also had a 29-11 advantage in first downs.
The Steelers had just 29 yards on the ground with a long gain of 5.
Baltimore receiver Zay Flowers (knee) missed the game.
The Ravens led 21-0 at halftime after dominating the first 30 minutes and putting together touchdown drives of 95, 85 and 90 yards.
Baltimore outgained the Steelers 308-59 and had a 19-2 edge in first downs in the half.
The Ravens took the lead on Jackson’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Bateman with 4:45 left in the first quarter to cap off the 95-yard drive. Henry’s 8-yard scoring run made it 14-0 with 4:09 left in the first half.
Jackson later scrambled out of trouble and hit Hill on a 5-yard scoring pass with two seconds remaining.
Pittsburgh suddenly displayed life in the third quarter as Wilson connected with Jefferson on a 30-yard scoring pass to cap a 98-yard drive with 8:05 left in the period. But Henry broke loose on the fourth play of Baltimore’s next drive and galloped 44 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-7 with 5:49 left.
“He means a lot to our offense,” Jackson said of Henry. “He’s a workhorse, a guy who wants to do everything right. … He’s the type of player you need in your backfield.”
The Steelers scored again five plays later as Wilson tossed a 36-yard touchdown pass to Pickens with 3:24 left in the third, but that would be the end of the scoring for the night.
–Field Level Media
