OWINGS MILLS —Ravens running back Derrick Henry understands the importance of Thursday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Even though his teammates are downplaying the revenge factor after losing to Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game last season, Henry can feel a different type of energy in practice.
“That was who they lost to get to the big one, so I’m sure that’s in the back of their minds,” Henry said. “[They’ll] want to come out and play Ravens’ style of football [and] execute so that we get a ‘W,’ but, yes, I’m sure that’s in the back of their minds, and I’m sure everybody is locked in and going to be ready to go.”
Henry spent the first eight years of his career with the Tennessee Titans and had some of his best games against Kansas City. He has run for 672 yards with eight touchdowns in six games, including the playoffs, against the Chiefs.
Henry knows Kansas City will be determined to shut him down and make quarterback Lamar Jackson and the rest of the offense one-dimensional by throwing the ball downfield. He’s ready for that challenge.
“They are a great team [and] have been a great team for a while now,” Henry said. “Their defense is solid. I think they are solid from top to bottom, have willing tacklers, [and] they are disruptive, so you just have to bring your A-game when you’re going up against those guys. I’ve been fortunate enough to have success when we’ve played them.”
The Ravens had the league’s No. 1 rushing attack in the regular season, but offensive coordinator Todd Monken abandoned the run in the AFC championship. The Ravens ran the ball only 16 times — eight by quarterback Lamar Jackson — for 81 yards against a Chiefs team that allowed 182 yards rushing the previous week to the Buffalo Bills. The running backs received six carries — three each for Gus Edwards and Justice Hill.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta tried to acquire Henry at last season’s trade deadline, but he was rebuffed by the Titans. Henry then became the Ravens’ top free-agent target this offseason and DeCosta signed him to a two-year, $16 million deal.
When asked whether he would have been the difference for a Ravens victory in the AFC Championship Game, Henry grew excited and said the outcome would have been different.
“Hell yes. I was wishing I could suit up that day [when I was] watching that game,” Henry said. “But, yes, now it’s my turn, so [I have] to take advantage of it. It’s going to be a hell of a game. The Chiefs are always tough, [and] they’re solid on all three [phases], so we’ve got to be locked in this week to be able to execute on Thursday.”
The Ravens are hoping Henry will be the difference in the rematch. He should get plenty of opportunities, especially if Monken learned his lesson from last season’s performance against Kansas City.
