Baltimore Keep Playoff Hopes Alive Behind Derrick Henry's Four-Touchdown Outburst, Texans Secure Playoff Berth

Derrick Henry ran for a year-best 216 yards and matched a personal best with four TDs on the ground as the Baltimore Ravens remained in the postseason hunt by toppling the Green Bay Packers 41-24 on Saturday night.

Henry had three touchdown runs in the opening two quarters and then scored again on a 25-yard run with 1:56 left in the game. His seventh career 200-yard game moved him ahead of Adrian Peterson and OJ Simpson for the highest total in league history.

His 36 carries marked a career high.

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

Green Bay (9-6-1) dropped their third consecutive game, enabling the Chicago Bears to secure the division crown. The Packers had already clinched a playoff berth earlier in the week.

Both squads were without their first-string QBs as Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson is sidelined by a back injury while Green Bay’s Jordan Love is in the league's head injury program. The two replacement starters – 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 career-high 288 passing yards and one touchdown, and he also ran for 60 yards and two touchdowns before leaving after aggravating a shoulder injury. The Ravens' backup was 16-for-20 for 107 yards with a scoring pass.

The deciding factor in the matchup was the Packers' failure to contain Henry, who helped the Ravens outgain on the ground the Green Bay 307-79.

Henry didn’t touch the ball in the Ravens' last two possessions the previous week in a costly loss. The proven rusher's absence in the final period was a major point of discussion locally all week.

The Ravens made sure he got the ball early and often. Henry’s dominance enabled the offense to score on their first five possessions and build a 27-14 halftime lead.

Henry totaled 15 carries in Baltimore’s opening two drives and finished each of them with scores. He tacked on a further short TD run just before the second quarter ended.

The Packers got back into the game by outplaying Baltimore 10-0 in the third period.

After a field goal, the defense elicited the first punt of the night. Willis then scrambled for an 11-yard score to make it 27-24.

But the Ravens answered on their next series.

The workhorse back ran for a key gain on a third down play. He ended the period with a long run. Those key runs paved the way for a scoring strike from the quarterback to Zay Flowers.

Willis drove the offense into Baltimore territory before injuring his throwing shoulder and heading to the locker room. His backup threw an pick on his only pass.

Houston Texans Secure Playoff Spot With Win Over Los Angeles

CJ Stroud threw for two long touchdowns on the team's opening possessions, and the Houston went on to beat the Los Angeles Chargers by four points on Saturday to secure a third straight postseason appearance.

The Houston Texans, now 11-5 won their eighth in a row, their best run in several seasons.

The Los Angeles Chargers, also 11-5 had their positive run ended and ceded the division crown to their rivals.

Stroud’s two explosive TDs shocked the Chargers and gave the Texans a two-score advantage. On his first pass of the game, he hit a receiver for a long touchdown. He later tossed a 43-yard TD on the next drive.

Stroud connected on his first six throws of the game. He finished with 244 yards.

Houston’s defense recorded third-down sacks on the opponent's first two possessions. The Chargers were held to three-and-out on multiple early drives.

The LA signal-caller, competing with a broken hand, was brought down on five occasions.

An early pick of Stroud in the first half only resulted in a field goal for the Chargers. Another takeaway failed to produce any scores.

The LA were stopped on the one-yard line by a crucial interception. The intended receiver saw the pass pop off his hands, leading to the change of possession.

The placekicker missed a field goal from close distance just before the break and later missed an PAT attempt on the team’s final drive after a late touchdown.

The Texans' kicker converted kicks from 41 and 44 yards to help secure the victory.