Jackson, Henry lead way to next round

AFC WILD CARD RAVENS 28, STEELERS 14

Dynamic QB-RB combo proves too much for division rival

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RB Derrick Henry stiff-arms Steelers LB Patrick Queen during the Ravens’ wild-card victory on Saturday night in Baltimore. Henry ran for 186 yards and had two TDs. terrance Williams/ap

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By Noah Trister Associated Press

BALTIMORE — Lamar Jackson handed off to Derrick Henry, then slid out to the left as if he still had the ball. A couple linebackers shifted into Jackson’s path, leaving the middle open for Henry to run through for a 44-yard touchdown.

That’s the quandary Jackson and Henry create for defensive players. First, they have to figure out who has the ball — and if enough people are out of position, either the Ravens star can make you pay.

Jackson threw for two touchdowns in a flawless first half, Henry scored twice while leading a devastating running game, and the Ravens beat the Steelers 28-14 on Saturday night to advance to the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.

Jackson and Henry had the Steelers chasing shadows all night as the Ravens outrushed them 299-29. It was the most yards rushing allowed by the Steelers in a playoff game, breaking the mark of 232 set by the Raiders 51 years ago.

“My dad’s proud. Jack Harbaugh’s proud right now. He likes to pound the rock,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “Derrick Henry was running hard, physical. Lamar started it off. Lamar carried the ball at different times in the first drive or two.”

The Ravens move on to the divisional round after jumping out to a 21-0 halftime lead and holding on against their AFC North rivals. The Ravens had a 19-2 advantage in first downs in the first half, when they produced touchdown drives of 95, 85 and 90 yards.

Henry ran for 186 yards.

Jackson, the two-time league MVP still seeking a postseason breakthrough, made it clear from the start he was going to make the Steelers (10-8) defend his arm and his legs. He kept the chains moving, and the Ravens (13-5) were happy to advance the ball methodically against a Steelers team that has relied heavily this season on forcing turnovers.

“They understood how to win a football game like this,” Harbaugh said. “It’s one thing to know it, it’s another thing to execute it and do it, and they did it.”

The Steelers’ season ends with five straight losses, two of which came in Baltimore. The ending was a familiar story for the Steelers, who have lost six consecutive playoff games. The last three times they’ve been in the postseason, they’ve fallen on the road in games that have exemplified the gap between the Steelers and the conference’s true contenders.

“They were the better group today. That was obvious,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.

“The X factor was Lamar’s unique talents. It seems like every time we got him behind the sticks, he made up for it.”