Ravens Keep Playoff Hopes Alive Powered by Derrick Henry's Quadruple-TD Performance, Texans Secure Playoff Berth

The veteran running back accumulated a season-high 216 rushing yards and tied a personal best with four touchdown runs as the Baltimore Ravens staved off elimination by beating the Green Bay Packers 41-24 on Saturday evening.

Henry had three touchdown runs in the first half and then found the end zone once more on a 25-yard run with under two minutes remaining in the game. His seventh 200-yard rushing performance surpassed Adrian Peterson and OJ Simpson for the highest total in NFL history.

His 36 rushing attempts marked a personal record.

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

Green Bay (9-6-1) dropped their third consecutive game, enabling the Chicago Bears to clinch the NFC North title. The Packers had previously secured a postseason spot earlier in the week.

Both squads were without their first-string QBs as Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson deals with a back issue while Green Bay’s Jordan Love is in the league's head injury program. The two replacement starters – Baltimore’s Tyler Huntley and Malik Willis – were both effective in a contest that featured only a single punt.

Willis went 18 of 21 for a career-high 288 passing yards and one touchdown, and he also rushed for 60 yards and two scores before leaving after re-injuring a shoulder injury. The Ravens' backup was 16-for-20 for 107 yards with a scoring pass.

The deciding factor in the matchup was Green Bay’s inability to slow down Henry, who helped the Ravens outrush the Packers by a wide margin.

Henry was not utilized in Baltimore’s final two series the previous week in a costly loss. The veteran running back’s lack of fourth-quarter usage was a major point of discussion locally all week.

The Ravens ensured he touched the rock frequently from the outset. His powerful running allowed the Ravens to score on their first five possessions and take a 13-point lead at the break.

He totaled 15 carries in the team's first two series and capped each of them with touchdown runs. He tacked on another short TD run just before the end of the half.

Green Bay made it competitive by outscoring the Ravens ten to nothing in the third quarter.

After a field goal, the defense forced the initial punt of the night. The QB then scrambled for an 11-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to a three-point game.

But the Baltimore squad answered on their ensuing drive.

The workhorse back ran for a crucial first down on a third-and-5. He closed the period with a 30-yard burst. Those two plays set up a touchdown pass from Huntley to his receiver.

The Packers' quarterback led the Packers into Baltimore territory before injuring his throwing shoulder and departing for the locker room. His backup threw an pick on his only pass.

Texans Secure Postseason Berth With Victory Over Los Angeles

The Texans' quarterback threw for a pair of deep scores on the team's opening possessions, and the Houston went on to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 20-16 on Saturday to clinch a third consecutive playoff berth.

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

The Chargers (11-5) had their four-game winning streak ended and ceded the AFC West title to their rivals.

Stroud’s two explosive TDs shocked the defense and gave the Texans a two-score advantage. On his first pass of the game, he hit a wideout for a 75-yard score. He later threw a deep scoring pass on the following possession.

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

The Texans' defensive unit recorded third-down sacks on the Chargers’ first two possessions. The Chargers were held to three-and-out on multiple early drives.

The Chargers' quarterback, playing with a broken hand, was sacked five times.

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

The Chargers were denied on the goal line by a key defensive play. The intended receiver saw the ball pop off his hands, leading to the change of possession.

The Chargers' kicker failed to convert a kick from close distance just before the break and later pushed wide an PAT attempt on the team’s final drive after a late touchdown.

The Texans' kicker made field goals from beyond 40 yards to contribute to the win.