There’s not a more intimidating quarterback-running back duo in the NFL than Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens.
Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP, has 2,600 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns through eight games. Henry is one of just eight players in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season (2020), and he’s on pace for another 2,000-yard season this year (and 23 touchdowns).
The dynamic duo will be a huge test for the Denver Broncos‘ defense on Sunday.
“Anytime the quarterback’s a run threat, you kind of get a man back offensively,” coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. “It’s not 10 versus 11. When you have a really good running back, that makes it really difficult. These guys have been rushing it extremely well, throwing it extremely well and scoring.
“Then I would say from a complementary football standpoint, they’re defending the run well. They’ve gotten teams in a number of the games they’ve played this year into a one-dimensional game and that’s with scoring. This is one of those teams obviously that we’ve seen in the postseason and playing late in the postseason for a reason. John [Harbaugh] does a great job. He has a for a number of years.”
If the Broncos sell out to stop the run, Jackson is capable of beating them over the top. Denver cornerback Pat Surtain said the unit will have to be disciplined this weekend in Baltimore.
“We know how dynamic he is as far as running the ball,” Surtain said of Henry. “Defensively, some defenses fill the box, but that sets up a lot of opportunity with the passing game when you’re committed to stopping the run. It allows the play pass, the boots, the RPOs, all those things that feed off the run to have success in the passing game.
“We just have to read our keys the right way and understand how they’re trying to attack us defensively on our side of the ball. We just have to be able to stop the run and try to make them one-dimensional at the end of the day.”
The Ravens lead the NFL in total yards per game (452.1) and rushing yards per game (200). They have the second-best offense in the league in terms of points per game (30.3). Sunday will be the Broncos’ biggest test of the season thus far. Denver’s defense ranks near the top of the league in many categories this fall, but the trip to Baltimore threatens to change that.
Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (TV broadcast map). Playing on the road, Denver is considered a big underdog in Week 9.
