Ravens Stay Alive Behind Derrick Henry's Four Scores Outburst, Houston Clinch Playoff Berth

Derrick Henry accumulated a year-best 216 yards and equaled a career high with four rushing scores as the Baltimore Ravens staved off elimination by toppling the Packers 41-24 on Saturday night.

The powerful back had three scores in the first half and then scored again on a 25-yard dash with 1:56 left in the game. His seventh 200-yard game moved him ahead of Adrian Peterson and OJ Simpson for the most in league history.

His 36 carries constituted a personal record.

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

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

Both teams were without their first-string QBs as Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson deals with a back issue while the Packers' signal-caller is in the concussion protocol. The two replacement starters – Tyler Huntley and Green Bay’s Malik Willis – were both productive in a game that featured only a single punt.

The Packers' fill-in went 18 of 21 for a personal-best 288 yards and a TD pass, and he also rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns before leaving after aggravating a shoulder issue. The Ravens' backup was 16 of 20 for 107 yards with one touchdown.

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

Henry didn’t touch the ball in the Ravens' last two possessions the week before in a narrow defeat. The proven rusher's absence in the final period was a hot topic around Baltimore all week.

The coaching staff made sure he got the ball early and often. Henry’s dominance enabled the offense to score on their first five possessions and build a 27-14 halftime lead.

He accumulated 15 rushes in the team's first two series and capped each of them with scores. He tacked on another short TD run just before the second quarter ended.

The Packers got back into the game by outscoring the Ravens 10-0 in the third period.

After a field goal, the defense forced the first punt of the night. Willis then ran for an 11-yard touchdown to make it a three-point game.

But the Ravens responded on their next series.

The workhorse back ran for a key gain on a third-and-5. He ended the period with a long run. Those key runs paved the way for a touchdown pass from the quarterback to his receiver.

The Packers' quarterback drove the Packers into Ravens' land before injuring his throwing shoulder and heading to the locker room. His backup threw an interception on his first attempt.

Texans Lock Up Playoff Spot With Victory Over Chargers

The Texans' quarterback threw for two long touchdowns on the team's first two drives, and the Texans went on to beat the Chargers 20-16 on Saturday afternoon to clinch a third straight postseason appearance.

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 handed the AFC West title to their rivals.

The young QB's pair of quick strikes shocked the defense and gave the Texans a two-score advantage. On his first pass of the game, he hit a wideout for a 75-yard score. He later threw a deep scoring pass on the following possession.

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

The Texans' defensive unit forced key sacks on the Chargers’ first two possessions. The Chargers were held to quick punts on three of their first four possessions.

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

An interception of the Texans' QB in the second quarter only produced a field goal for the Chargers. Another interception did not yield any points.

The LA were denied on the one-yard line by a key defensive play. The intended receiver saw the ball bounce away, leading to the turnover.

The Chargers' kicker failed to convert a field goal from close distance just before the break and later pushed wide an PAT attempt on the last possession after a late touchdown.

The Houston specialist made field goals from 41 and 44 yards to help secure the victory.