In an electrifying AFC Wild Card matchup, the Baltimore Ravens showcased their dynamic offense, spearheaded by quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry, to overwhelm the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14 on Saturday night. The victory sends Baltimore to the second round of the playoffs and highlights the lethal partnership between their dual-threat stars.
Early in the game, Jackson and Henry demonstrated the nightmare they pose for defenses. On a play that epitomized their chemistry, Jackson handed off to Henry while faking a keeper, drawing linebackers out of position. The result? Henry exploded through an open middle for a 44-yard touchdown, leaving Pittsburgh defenders chasing shadows.
“They’re so hard to defend because you never know who has the ball,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin admitted postgame. “And when you guess wrong, they make you pay.”
Baltimore wasted no time setting the tone. They orchestrated touchdown drives of 95, 85, and 90 yards in the first half, jumping out to a commanding 21-0 lead. Their opening possession was a 13-play masterpiece, capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Rashod Bateman. The creativity extended to Henry taking a direct snap for a 34-yard gain on that drive, with Jackson faking a sweep.
Henry, who amassed 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns, powered the Ravens’ ground game, which accumulated 299 rushing yards — the most Pittsburgh has ever allowed in a playoff game. Jackson, meanwhile, was surgical, completing 16 of 21 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 81 yards.
After being stifled in the first half, the Steelers found some rhythm in the second. Quarterback Russell Wilson, acquired in the offseason, engineered a 98-yard touchdown drive to open the third quarter, connecting with Van Jefferson for a 30-yard score. However, Baltimore responded immediately with Henry’s show-stopping 44-yard touchdown run.
Wilson added another touchdown pass to George Pickens, but the Steelers failed to close the gap further. Wilson finished 20 of 29 for 270 yards, but Pittsburgh’s inability to stop Baltimore’s ground attack sealed their fate.
Henry’s 186-yard outing marked the second-best postseason performance of his career. The only higher total came exactly five years earlier in the same stadium when, as a Tennessee Titan, he ran for 195 yards against Baltimore.
The Ravens’ rushing dominance was a team effort, with the offensive line paving the way for one punishing run after another. “We take pride in wearing teams down,” said Henry. “When we’re clicking like this, it’s hard to stop us.”
Baltimore’s playoff path now depends on Sunday’s results. If Denver defeats Buffalo, the Ravens will host Houston next weekend. Otherwise, they’ll travel to Buffalo for a high-stakes showdown with MVP candidate Josh Allen.
For the Steelers, the loss marks their sixth straight playoff defeat and highlights the gap between them and the AFC’s elite. Despite a late-season surge to reach the postseason, the team’s shortcomings were laid bare by the Ravens’ dominance.
“We’ve got work to do,” said Wilson, reflecting on the season. “But we’ll be back.”
With Jackson and Henry leading the charge, the Ravens are peaking at the right time. Their dismantling of the Steelers sends a clear message to the rest of the AFC: Baltimore is a legitimate contender, capable of beating teams with creativity, power, and precision. As they await their next opponent, one thing is certain — any defense facing this duo has their work cut out for them.