Ravens Remain in Contention Powered by Henry’s Four-Touchdown Outburst, Houston Clinch Playoff Berth

The veteran running back ran for a year-best 216 yards and tied a career high with four touchdown runs as the Baltimore Ravens staved off elimination by beating the Green Bay Packers by a score of 41-24 on Saturday night.

Henry had three touchdown runs in the first half and then scored again on a 25-yard run with under two minutes remaining in the game. His seventh career 200-yard rushing performance overtook two legendary runners for the most in NFL history.

His 36 carries represented a personal record.

The Ravens (8-8) now must rely on the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers lose at the Browns on Sunday. A Steelers victory in Cleveland would extinguish the Ravens' postseason dreams. If the Cleveland win that game, the could win the division title by defeating the Steelers on the road next week.

The Packers, falling to 9-6-1 lost their third straight, enabling the Chicago Bears to secure the division crown. The Packers had previously secured a playoff berth earlier in the week.

Both squads were missing their starting quarterbacks as Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson is sidelined by a back issue while Green Bay’s Jordan Love is in the league's head injury program. The two backup quarterbacks – Tyler Huntley and Malik Willis – were both productive in a game that saw only a single punt.

The Packers' fill-in went 18 of 21 for a personal-best 288 yards and a TD pass, and he also rushed for 60 yards and two scores before exiting after re-injuring a shoulder injury. The Ravens' backup was 16-for-20 for 107 yards with a scoring pass.

The difference in the matchup was the Packers' failure to stop Henry, who helped the Ravens outrush the Green Bay 307-79.

Henry didn’t touch the ball in Baltimore’s final two series the week before in a costly loss. The veteran running back’s absence in the final period was a hot topic locally all week.

The Ravens ensured he got the ball early and often. His powerful running enabled the Ravens to put points on the board on their initial five drives and build a 13-point lead at the break.

He totaled 15 carries in Baltimore’s opening two drives and finished each of them with touchdown runs. He added another three-yard touchdown just before the second quarter ended.

Green Bay got back into the game by outscoring the Ravens ten to nothing in the third quarter.

After a three-pointer, the Packers elicited the first punt of the night. Willis then scrambled for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 27-24.

But the Baltimore squad responded on their next series.

Henry ran for a crucial first down on a third down play. He ended the period with a 30-yard burst. Those two plays paved the way for a scoring strike from the quarterback to his receiver.

Willis drove the offense into Ravens' land before injuring his shoulder and heading to the locker room. His backup threw an interception on his first attempt.

Texans Secure Postseason Berth After Victory Over Chargers

CJ Stroud threw for a pair of deep scores on Houston’s opening possessions, and the Texans went on to beat the Los Angeles Chargers by four points on Saturday afternoon to clinch a third consecutive playoff berth.

The Texans (11-5) won their eighth in a row, their longest such streak in several seasons.

The Los Angeles Chargers, also 11-5 had their four-game winning streak snapped and ceded the division crown to their rivals.

The young QB's pair of quick strikes stunned the defense and gave Houston a two-score advantage. On his first pass of the game, he hit a receiver for a long touchdown. He later threw a deep scoring pass on the following possession.

He completed his first six attempts of the game. He finished with 244 passing yards.

Houston’s defense forced third-down sacks on the opponent's first two possessions. The Chargers were held to quick punts on multiple early drives.

The Chargers' quarterback, competing with a broken hand, was brought down on five occasions.

An interception of the Texans' QB in the first half only resulted in a field goal for the offense. Another interception did not yield any points.

The LA were denied on the one-yard line by a key defensive play. The target saw the ball bounce away, leading to the change of possession.

The Chargers' kicker missed a kick from close distance just before the break and later missed an PAT attempt on the team’s final drive after a score.

The Houston specialist converted kicks from 41 and 44 yards to help secure the victory.