OWINGS MILLS – One of the most disappointing moments of the Ravens’ 2023 season was when they blew a late, 14-point lead in a loss to the Browns.
But that has been a disturbing trend over the past few years. Baltimore has lost nine games with a seven-point or more lead in the fourth quarter since the start of the 2021 season, the most in the NFL
The Ravens might have found a remedy.
Adding running back Derrick Henry should help the Ravens hold on to those late-game leads. His punishing style of running the football can wear down opponents.
“I watched the wear and tear that he put on defenses, and ours included, over the years,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said about Henry. “He’s come out, he’s in great shape, he’s a stickler for details – knowing the plays – and he’s moving really well, so I can’t wait to see him in action.”
In March, the Ravens signed Henry to a two-year, $16 million contract worth up to $20 million, including $9 million fully guaranteed in the first year. He is expected to be a huge boost to a running attack that was already ranked No. 1 in the NFL.
Henry turned 30 on January 4th but is still a dominant player. The Ravens will try to make another deep run in the playoffs next season, and Henry elevates their chances.
Henry has run for at least 1,00 yards and 12 touchdowns in five of the last six seasons. He also led the NFL in rushing in 2019 (1,540), and in 2020, when he became the eighth running back in NFL history to register more than 2,000 rushing yards in a single season (2,027).
Over eight NFL seasons, Henry has run for 9,502 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per carry, with 90 touchdowns.
“My job is being explosive, making explosive runs, being a threat in the run game and anywhere else they ask me to help out this offense,” Henry said. “So, it’s just [on] me [to] focus on doing my job, just so I’m a threat to opposing defenses.”
