Back in the days when Todd Monken worked as the receivers coach at LSU, Les Miles often said something that has stuck with him through the years: “There’s nothing like being able to turn around and comfortably hand the ball off to the running back.” At the time, Monken wasn’t a big fan of this sentiment—he was, after all, in charge of the Tigers’ passing game. Yet, as he looks back from his current role as the Ravens' offensive coordinator, he admits, “There’s something to that.”
And that something becomes monumental when the running back taking the handoff is Derrick Henry. As the Ravens gear up for a high-stakes playoff clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers on a chilly Saturday night, they carry the weight of past playoff heartbreaks, particularly last year’s AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. That devastating 17-10 defeat saw Monken’s offense run the ball only 16 times, a statistic that still haunts Ravens fans.
But this year feels different. Why? Because the Ravens have an unstoppable force in the backfield: the ageless Derrick Henry. At 6-foot-2 and 247 pounds, Henry is a human freight train wearing purple and black. He’s not just another talented back in the league; he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer playing some of the best football of his career at age 31.
Henry just wrapped up a season where he averaged a career-best 5.9 yards per carry. According to Pro Football Focus, he led the league in missed tackles forced, yards gained after contact, and explosive runs of 20+ yards. These numbers barely scratch the surface of his impact, especially as the Ravens face a Steelers defense eager to derail their Super Bowl ambitions.
As quarterback Lamar Jackson puts it, “I don’t believe anybody likes hitting in the cold, especially not a 250-pound, all-muscle running back running downhill at you. I wouldn’t want to do it. But it’s great for us.”
Even ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky remarked that the Steelers would prefer to see Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP, keep the ball over handing it off to Henry. That’s how intimidating the “King” has become.
Henry’s ability to wear down defenses grows as the season progresses. Historically, he’s averaged almost a yard more per carry in December than in September. Ravens fans need no reminder of his 2019 playoff performance when he single-handedly demolished Baltimore’s top-seeded team with 195 rushing yards, including 139 in the second half. Facing Henry when it’s 26 degrees—Saturday night’s forecasted low—is not an appealing prospect for defenders.
“It’s getting cold now, so things are going to hurt a little bit more,” said Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike. “Thank God I’m not on the other side. He’s going to do his thing, and guys better be ready.”
Postseason football often demands a physical, no-nonsense approach, and that’s precisely what Henry provides. “I think physicality travels,” Monken said. “You can’t control wind, rain, snow, or any other elements. But you can convert in short-yardage situations, and that’s why we’ve been so effective in the red zone. Derrick’s physicality paired with Lamar’s playmaking is a game-changer.”
The Steelers got a brutal preview just before Christmas when Henry bulldozed his way to 162 yards on 24 carries. He followed that performance with 147 yards against Houston and 138 in the AFC North-clinching victory over Cleveland. As linebacker Roquan Smith said, “I’m very excited Derrick is on my team, bruising other guys throughout the AFC right now. Once he gets going, it’s going to be a long night for a lot of people.”
Skeptics might argue that the Ravens’ ground game isn’t statistically superior to previous seasons, like 2019 when they set a single-season rushing record or 2020 when they led the league in rushing yards and capped the season with a 404-yard masterpiece against Cincinnati. Yet, neither of those seasons ended in playoff success. Those Ravens teams relied heavily on Lamar Jackson as both the offensive leader and primary ball carrier. This year, the addition of Henry shifts that dynamic.
General Manager Eric DeCosta saw Henry as the missing piece when he signed him to a two-year, $16 million deal last offseason. DeCosta had tried to acquire Henry at the trade deadline last year, believing the star back could be the final touch for a team poised to secure the AFC’s top playoff seed. The gamble has paid off. Henry and Jackson have created the most efficient offense in Ravens history, but the ultimate goal is playoff success.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh didn’t mince words when asked if Henry provides an element the team has lacked in recent years. “Yes,” he said, leaving no need for elaboration. “It’s great to have a great back. Derrick’s obviously running really hard, really physical, and downhill. Our guys are blocking well, and the offense’s other elements complement that.”
With Henry in the game, it’s hard to imagine the Ravens abandoning the ground attack as they did in last year’s AFC Championship. Even during games when they’ve fallen behind, Henry has shown the ability to keep the offense moving. Despite his imposing presence, Henry avoids making bold statements or feeding into media narratives. “I’m not going to get into all of that,” he said. “I just wanted to come here, make an impact, and help this team get to where they want to go. This week is the first step.”
For Monken, having a back like Henry is a game-changer in the truest sense. “It’s kind of a smoke break for your quarterback,” he joked. “There’s not much processing involved. You can just turn around and hand the ball off. No reading, no throwing, no protection schemes. It’s big. Really big.”
As the Ravens prepare for Saturday’s cold-weather showdown, one thing is certain: Derrick Henry is their ace in the hole. His physicality, skill, and experience could be the key to rewriting the Ravens’ playoff narrative and finally unlocking Lamar Jackson’s path to a Super Bowl. And as the game’s temperature drops, Henry’s presence ensures the Ravens’ chances will only heat up.
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