Total dominance.
That was Lamar Jackson. That was Derrick Henry.
And that was the host Baltimore Ravens during the first half of Saturday night’s AFC Wild Card matchup, enabling Jackson to shed past Pittsburgh Steelers demons.
Building a 21-0 halftime advantage, Jackson went 13-of-15 for 144 yards and two touchdown passes. He also added 64 yards rushing on 11 attempts. Jackson led the Ravens to 308 first-half yards, culminating in 19 first downs and three prolonged TD drives.
The Steelers, meanwhile, compiled just two first-half first downs. On defense, they failed to defend the Ravens’ read-option attack. Internally, they attempted a brief second-half rally, but couldn’t rebound from its month-long slide, falling 28-14 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Jackson and Henry were so punishing, they helped the Ravens compile 227 yards after contact, with more than five minutes remaining, the most of any NFL defense this season. Henry finished with 186 yards rushing.
X (Twitter) users reacted Saturday night to Jackson beating the Steelers for just the third time in his last 11 meetings. Is he the MVP? …
Those are some loud MVP chants for Lamar Jackson! 🗣️#NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/B0jYoHE7I8
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) January 12, 2025
The Ravens made a defining statement on the opening drive, highlighted by Henry’s “infamous stiff-arm” …
The royal stiff arm 👑 pic.twitter.com/OTakYdvxXV
— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2025
Jackson directed the Ravens to a 13-play, 95-yard TD drive on their opening possession, capped by a 15-yard scoring pass to Rashod Bateman on a third-and-13 play. The Ravens held the ball for 7:13 …
LAMAR TO BATEMAN 🤝
Ravens strike first 😤
(via @Ravens) pic.twitter.com/P6rS9cwapK
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 12, 2025
Jackson being and doing Jackson-like things …
🎱
Tune in on prime! pic.twitter.com/C7IOVhs9gV
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 12, 2025
Henry powered into the endzone to give the Ravens a 14-0 lead. The 8-yard TD run capped a 13-play, 85-yard drive at 4:09 of the second quarter. The Ravens had 156 total rushing yards at that point …
13 plays
13 runs
85 yards14-0 Ravens 😤
(via @Ravens) pic.twitter.com/DYHf4tbLQk
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 12, 2025
The Ravens capped the dominating first half with a scrambling Jackson connecting with Justice Hill on a 5-yard pass from Jackson with two seconds left until halftime. Jackson directed a nine-play, 90-yard drive in just 1:51 …
Lamar Jackson buys time and finds Justice Hill for the TD! @Ravens up 21-0 👀#PITvsBAL on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/46SpU4WgJG— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2025
The Steelers’ playoff starts have trended poorly over the past decade. The 2024 score, by the way, should be edited to Ravens 21, Steelers 0 …
Last 6 Steelers starts to playoff games:
2016 NE 10, PIT 0
2017 JAX 21, PIT 0
2020 CLE 28, PIT 0
2021 KC 35, PIT 7
2023 BUF 21, PIT 0
2024 BAL 7, PIT 0Tomlin teams are awful starters. A tale as old as time.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) January 12, 2025
Starting the second half on their 2-yard line, the Steelers started scratching back into the Wild Card. Quarterback Russell Wilson hit Van Jefferson 30-yard scoring pass ..,
Van Jefferson! @Steelers get six.#PITvsBAL on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/HWttgSB0Um— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2025
The visitor’s momentum was halted briefly on Henry’s 44-yard scoring ramble. Who remembers the Steel Curtain? This was more like the Steel Breezeway …
44-YARD RUSHING TOUCHDOWN FOR DERRICK HENRY#NFL pic.twitter.com/b8ZRk7dPGw
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 12, 2025
Capping a strong offensive third quarter, but eventually falling short, Russell went to a spinning George Pickens on their next series, scoring on a 36-yard pass and pulling to within 28-14. The Steelers ended the season with five consecutive defeats …
George Pickens with a spin move into the end zone 😱
🎥 @NFL pic.twitter.com/7TGFGrImQa
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 12, 2025
Final score: Ravens 28, Steelers 14 …
It's a final from Baltimore as the Ravens took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14 to advance to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. They will find out who they will be playing next week on Sunday. #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/EiR5TvxPSP
— 98 Rock (@98Rock) January 12, 2025
