What We Learned from wins by Kansas City, Baltimore

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Michael Baca’s takeaways:

1. Ravens protection stiffens in fourth quarter to safe win, playoff berth. After the offense secured a seven-point result in conclude the third quarter, Baltimore’s protection completed the job within the ultimate body, stifling the Pittsburgh offense to the tune of zero factors and 34 complete internet yards allowed in 4 possessions. Highlighting that dominance was Marlon Humphrey‘s 37-yard pick-six, which not solely gave the Ravens a two-touchdown lead however basically erased what might have been a expensive interception by the Ravens two performs earlier. It was in that second the wind appeared to be taken out of Pittsburgh’s sails, and whereas Lamar Jackson and the offense proceeded to seal the sport on their subsequent possession with an 11-play, 81-yard scoring drive (6:09 TOP) to make it a three-score recreation, Baltimore’s defensive stand late was an awesome tone-setter. Kyle Van Noy, Michael Pierce and Nnamdi Madubuike every notched sacks within the win, and the play of do-it-all security Kyle Hamilton (eight tackles, one move break-up, compelled fumble) was important for the Ravens’ late-game success. Now having secured a playoff berth with the win on Saturday, the Ravens are additionally alive and properly within the AFC North divisional race. 
2. Turnovers — and lack thereof — hang-out Steelers. Russell Wilson‘s poor throw on the pick-six wasn’t the one turnover that resulted in factors for the Ravens. The Steelers quarterback coughed up a fumble on a scramble close to the pink zone early within the second quarter — halting Pittsburgh’s likelihood at seeing a lead on this recreation. Baltimore proceeded to reap the benefits of that momentum, driving the ball 81 yards downfield on a TD drive, and from then on, the Steelers unsuccessfully scrambled towards squaring the rating. In addition they jumbled when getting alternatives to safe unfastened balls. On three separate events the Steelers did not hop on would-be fumbles — one approaching an Alex Highsmith strip-sack within the first quarter and the opposite two by way of Desmond King on punt returns in each halves. With the Steelers’ usually constant dashing assault gone lacking on Saturday, amounting to an uncharacteristic offensive efficiency, Pittsburgh was left taking probabilities late due to the shortcoming to snag that rectangular ball.
3. Baltimore owns an ace within the gap for the playoffs. Beware to these permitting the Ravens to have a late-game lead going ahead, as a result of Saturday’s efficiency additionally proved they’ve a transparent benefit in that situation. The Ravens leaned on the dashing assault closely towards Pittsburgh and it wasn’t the results of their dynamic QB. Derrick Henry was a menace, totaling 162 dashing yards (189 complete scrimmage yards) and carrying down what had been a hard-hitting Steelers protection down the stretch. After the protection compelled a turnover on downs to open the fourth quarter, Henry’s 44-yard rumble to open the following drive appeared to be the backbreaker earlier than Jackson’s INT on the very subsequent play. However that long term down the sideline was paying homage to one thing we have seen this season when the Ravens are in want of closing out video games. They’re getting ready Henry to be that nearer, conserving him contemporary with simply 16 carries by means of the primary three quarters with a view to ship the knockout punch that has been lacking in earlier playoff runs for Baltimore. 

Subsequent Gen Stats Perception from Steelers-Ravens (by way of NFL Professional): Derrick Henry rushed 24 occasions for 162 yards and 7 explosive runs, essentially the most by any participant in a recreation this season. Henry ran between the tackles on a season-high 62.5% of his carries, the place he had 5 of his seven explosive runs. Henry compelled 10 missed tackles and gained 66 yards after missed tackles, each of which had been his third-most in a recreation this season. Henry has now gained 678 yards after missed tackles this season, 144 greater than the subsequent closest participant.

NFL Analysis: Derrick Henry had his seventeenth profession recreation with 150-plus dashing yards (seventh-most in NFL historical past) and now has 4 seasons with 1,500-plus dashing yards (tied for second-most in NFL historical past).