Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry carries the football during an NFL game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry didn’t just run all over the Pittsburgh Steelers Saturday night in a 34-17 victory at M&T Stadium.
Henry ran 24 times for 162 yards, a 6.8 yards per carry average, which is the most prolific rushing day for a Ravens' ballcarrier against the Steelers in team history, according to ESPN Stats Info.He is the fifth player in NFL history with four-or-more seasons of 1,500 rushing yards. The list includes legends Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Eric Dickerson and Edgerrin James.
“You have to bring it every time you play these guys, but we don’t try to make it so much about the rivalry,” Henry said. “We know if we play the way we know how, then we give ourselves a chance against anybody.”The Ravens rushed for 220 yards in all. QB Lamar Jackson added 22 and backup Justice Hill ran twice for 30 yards, but left the game due a concussion.“It starts right there with No. 22 . That’s who it starts with,” Harbaugh said. “It also starts with the offensive line.
For the Steelers, their inability to stop Henry and the Baltimore run game was the point of focus postgame. “It comes down to just playing sound defense. Just the simple things, tackling, myself included, being gap sound, relying on everybody in the gap game,” said Steelers outside linebacker TJ Watt. “And ultimately, getting the runner down, and we didn’t do that enough tonight.”The Ravens defeated the Steelers for the first time since 2022. Pittsburgh had won eight of their past nine meetings entering the game.