With 12:50 remaining in the fourth quarter of their Week 16 game, Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry scored on a 2-yard touchdown for a 24-13 lead over the New England Patriots.
It was the second touchdown of the game for Henry, and came with the Ravens playing without suddenly injured quarterback and 2-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson for the entire second half after a back injury.
This was the moment to turn to Henry, a 4-time NFL All-Pro and 5-time Pro Bowler who is one of the highest paid running backs in the NFL and could eventually land in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Instead, Henry never touched the ball again in a 28-24 loss that may have doomed the Ravens’ playoff hopes.
It also may have doomed Ravens head coach John Harbaugh after not using his star running back when the season was on the line and without his team’s other best offensive threat on the field.
Henry finished with 18 carries for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns while averaging 7.1 yards per carry.
“Derrick Henry scored a rushing touchdown with 12:50 left in the fourth quarter,” The Gambling Podcast’s Scott Reichel wrote on X. “The Ravens led 24-13. HE NEVER TOUCHED THE BALL AGAIN AND THE RAVENS LOST! John Harbaugh needs to be fired.”
NFL Legends Blast Ravens for Sitting Henry
There were a few NFL legends who couldn’t believe what they saw with the Ravens sitting Henry down the stretch.
“That’s the one guy the Patriots did not want to tackle. … I absolutely, at times, hate the Ravens’ offensive strategy,” SNF analyst and former NFL safety Rodney Harrison said. “What are you saving him for? You saving him for next year?”
“If Steph Curry just hit six three-pointers in a row, you don’t take him out and say ‘oh, this is your time to rest now.’ No. … You’ve got a lead. You’ve got to protect the lead. … It just did not make any sense to me,” SNF analyst and Super Bowl-winning head coach Tony Dungy said.
Ravens On Verge of Playoff Elimination
Not pounding the Patriots with Henry for the final quarter seemed to offend not just Harrison and Dungy but NFL fans the world over, with Harbaugh the target of everyone’s ire.
After a road upset of the Detroit Lions, the Pittsburgh Steelers need just one win in their final 2 games to clinch the AFC North Division title and eliminate the Ravens.
The Ravens play their final 2 games on the road; against the Green Bay Packers in Week 17 and the Steelers in Week 18. The Steelers travel to play the last place Cleveland Browns in Week 17.
Henry has 1,253 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns this season. It’s his sixth 1,000 yard season in the last 7 seasons, including 937 rushing yards in just 8 games in 2021 and a 2,000-yard season in 2020 on the way to being named NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
“John Harbaugh be like damn the Patriots can’t stop Derrick Henry,” Sports Content Creator Brandon Carney wrote on X. “Take him off the field.”
“Do you think the Patriots have to send a thank you note to the Ravens for not putting Derrick Henry in the game for this drive?” SNF color commentator Cris Collinsworth said during the broadcast.
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