By Harshit
GREEN BAY, DECEMBER 28 —
The Baltimore Ravens kept their postseason hopes alive Saturday night by leaning fully into their most reliable formula: hand the ball to Derrick Henry and let the game bend around him.
With Lamar Jackson sidelined due to a back injury, the Ravens delivered a decisive 41–24 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, powered by a historic performance from Henry. The veteran running back tied a career high with four touchdowns and rushed for 216 yards on 36 carries, marking the seventh 200-yard game of his career, the most by any player in NFL history.
Baltimore rushed for 307 total yards, controlled the clock, and neutralized Green Bay’s offense in a game that never truly slipped from its grasp.
Ravens Commit Fully to the Run Game
A week after questions surrounded Baltimore’s late-game play-calling against New England, head coach John Harbaugh left no doubt about the plan in Week 17. Henry was the centerpiece from the opening drive, punishing a Packers defense that struggled to bring him down at the point of contact.
Henry scored twice from short range early, added a receiving touchdown just before halftime, and sealed the game late with a 25-yard pitch run that showcased both vision and power. By night’s end, he had climbed into the NFL’s top 10 all-time rushing list, passing Tony Dorsett and continuing his march toward league immortality.
Tyler Huntley Keeps Baltimore Efficient
Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley was not asked to do too much — and that was exactly the point. He completed 16 of 20 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown, avoided turnovers, and added 60 rushing yards on eight carries to keep drives alive.
Huntley’s third-and-long touchdown strike to Zay Flowers in the fourth quarter effectively broke Green Bay’s momentum, pushing Baltimore’s lead back to double digits.
Malik Willis Shows Promise in Packers Loss
Despite the loss, Green Bay found positives in Malik Willis’ performance. Filling in at quarterback, Willis displayed poise and explosiveness, throwing accurately downfield and adding two rushing touchdowns on read-option plays.
However, a botched snap, a turnover on downs, and a late shoulder injury stalled Green Bay’s comeback attempt. Willis was later ruled questionable after exiting in the fourth quarter, with Clayton Tune finishing the game.
Game Control Told the Story
Baltimore dominated every controllable element:
- Time of possession: 37:12
- Total plays: 75 (Packers: 38)
- Rushing yards: 307
- Turnovers: 0
Green Bay, already locked into the NFC’s No. 7 seed, struggled to get off the field as Baltimore repeatedly extended drives with physical runs and short-yardage conversions.
What the Win Means
The victory keeps Baltimore mathematically alive in the AFC playoff race entering Week 18. While elimination remains possible depending on other results, the Ravens sent a clear message: if they remain alive, their path runs directly through Derrick Henry.
For Green Bay, the loss confirms their postseason seeding, but raises concerns about offensive consistency and health heading into wild-card weekend.