BALTIMORE — Much of the hype entering the Ravens and Commanders Week 6 matchup centered on the quarterbacks — two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and rookie sensation Jayden Daniels.
However, it was Baltimore running back Derrick Henry who was the difference in the game.
Henry ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns and the Ravens recorded a 30-23 victory on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, extending their winning streak to four games.
“I definitely think that’s the offensive story of the game, absolutely,” coach John Harbaugh said. “The fact that they did that … we expected that. We didn’t know if they were going to play a lot of man [coverage] or not, but they did, and I understand why they did. With all the quarterback and the run game stuff, they felt like they had to.
“They know how to stop they stuff; they run those plays, and for Lamar to put those passes where he did, and for the guys to make those plays, was the difference in the game.”
Henry is the first player to rush for a touchdown in each of his first six games since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005.
Jackson and Daniels were also outstanding. Jackson was 20-for-26 for 323 yards with one touchdown. Daniels was 24-for-35 for 269 yards with two touchdowns.
Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers caught 9 passes for a career-high 132 yards. It was the second straight week Flowers had more than 100 yards receiving.
“I thought Lamar had a great game,” Harbaugh said. “He was on point against man coverage. They were loading the box up against the run and playing a lot of man coverage, which they had not done a lot of throughout the course [of the season]. We had a lot of first- and second-down play-action passes up.
“Guys like Zay running crossing routes and sail routes away from those guys, and they were on our guys, but [they had] enough separation [and] Lamar dotted it.”
Henry’s second touchdown run from 7 yards gave the Ravens a 27-13 lead with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter. That capped a 94-yard drive on eight plays.
Jackson improved to 22-1 against NFC teams and is 7-0 against starting rookie quarterbacks.
Mark Andrews caught his first touchdown pass of the season and 41st of his career, tying Todd Heap for the most in franchise history. Andrews finished with three catches for 66 yards.
Jackson found Flowers for a 54-yard catch-and-run on the opening drive. However, Jackson was intercepted two plays later when his pass deflected off Andrers and into the hands of cornerback Mike Sainristil. The Ravens held Washinton to a 42-yard field goal by Austin Seibert.
Justin Tucker tied the game on the next possession with a 45-yard field goal. The Ravens outgained Washinton, 83-31, in the first quarter but the game remained tied, 3-3.
Henry got rolling in the second quarter with a 15-yard run and then a 3-yard touchdown scamper that gave the Ravens a 10-3 lead with 7:55 left in the first half.
Washington tied the game, 10-10, on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to Terry McLaurin.
The Ravens took a 17-10 lead when Jackson found Andrews, who had a leaping grab for a 13-yard touchdown in the middle of the end zone with 53 seconds left.
More milestones for Jackson: Jackson moved past Cam Newton for second place on the all-time rushing list for quarterbacks behind Michael Vick.
Cleveland gets a block: Ravens offensive lineman Ben Cleveland blocked a 52-yard field-goal attempt by Seibert as time expired in the first half.
Jones shines again: Ravens defensive tackle Travis Jones earned his first sack of the season in the first quarter. Jones was also stout against the run.
Commanders shorthanded: Brian Robinson Jr., who leads the Commanders with 325 yards rushing, was ruled out with a knee injury. This hampered Washington’s running attack, which managed 52 yards on the ground
Inactive players: Ravens inactive players for the game were wide receiver Devontez Walker, offensive lineman Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, center Nick Samac, linebacker Malik Harrison (groin), and defensive tackle Broderick Washington (knee). A pair of rookies — running back Rasheen Ali and safety Beau Brade — were active for the first time.
