Baltimore Remain in Contention Thanks to Derrick Henry's Four Scores Outburst, Houston Secure Postseason Spot

The veteran running back rushed for a year-best 216 yards and equaled a personal best with four rushing scores as the Baltimore Ravens staved off elimination by beating the Green Bay Packers 41-24 on Saturday night.

The powerful back had three touchdown runs in the first half and then scored again on a 25-yard dash with under two minutes remaining in the game. His seventh career 200-yard game surpassed two legendary runners for the most in NFL history.

His 36 rushing attempts represented a career high.

The Ravens (8-8) now must rely on the division-leading Steelers fall at the Browns on Sunday. A Pittsburgh win in Cleveland would end the Ravens' playoff hopes. If the Cleveland win that game, the could capture the AFC North by beating the Steelers on the road next week.

Green Bay (9-6-1) lost their third straight, allowing the Bears to clinch the division crown. The Packers had already clinched a postseason spot earlier in the week.

Both squads were missing their starting quarterbacks as Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson deals with a back issue while Green Bay’s Jordan Love is in the league's head injury program. The two replacement starters – Tyler Huntley and Green Bay’s Malik Willis – were both effective in a game that saw only a single punt.

Willis went 18 of 21 for a personal-best 288 passing yards and one touchdown, and he also ran for 60 yards and two scores before exiting after aggravating a shoulder issue. Huntley was 16-for-20 for 107 yards with one touchdown.

The difference in the game was the Packers' failure to stop Derrick Henry, who helped the Ravens outgain on the ground the Green Bay by a wide margin.

The star running back didn’t touch the ball in the Ravens' final two series the previous week in a costly loss. The proven rusher's lack of fourth-quarter usage was a hot topic around Baltimore all week.

The Ravens made sure he got the ball early and often. Henry’s dominance allowed the Ravens to put points on the board on their first five possessions and build a 13-point lead at the break.

Henry totaled 15 rushes in Baltimore’s first two series and capped each of them with touchdown runs. He added a further short TD run just before the end of the half.

The Packers got back into the game by outscoring Baltimore ten to nothing in the third period.

After a field goal, the Packers forced the first punt of the night. Willis then scrambled for an 11-yard score to cut the deficit to a three-point game.

But the Baltimore squad answered on their next series.

The workhorse back ran for a key gain on a third down play. He closed the third quarter with a long run. Those key runs set up a touchdown pass from Huntley to his receiver.

Willis drove the offense into Ravens' land before hurting his throwing shoulder and departing for the sideline. His backup threw an pick on his first attempt.

Houston Texans Lock Up Playoff Spot With Win Over Chargers

The Texans' quarterback threw for a pair of deep scores on the team's first two drives, and the Houston went on to beat the Chargers by four points on Saturday afternoon to clinch a third consecutive playoff berth.

The Houston Texans, now 11-5 won their eighth in a row, their longest such streak in several seasons.

The Chargers (11-5) had their four-game winning streak ended and ceded the AFC West title to their rivals.

Stroud’s two explosive TDs shocked the defense and gave Houston a two-score advantage. On his first pass of the game, he hit a receiver for a long touchdown. He later tossed a 43-yard TD on the following possession.

Stroud connected on his first six throws of the game. He finished with 244 passing yards.

The Texans' defensive unit forced key sacks on the Chargers’ first two possessions. The Los Angeles offense were held to three-and-out on three of their first four possessions.

The Chargers' quarterback, playing with a broken hand, was brought down on five occasions.

An early pick of Stroud in the first half only resulted in a three points for the Chargers. Another takeaway did not yield any scores.

The LA were stopped on the goal line by a key defensive play. The intended receiver saw the ball bounce away, leading to the turnover.

The placekicker missed a field goal from short range just before halftime and later missed an PAT attempt on the team’s final drive after a score.

The Texans' kicker made field goals from 41 and 44 yards to help secure the victory.