We're not used to seeing any running game featuring Derrick Henry look so ... middling. But that's exactly what happened for the second straight week, as the Baltimore Ravens got clocked 35-13 by the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. When these Ravens can't run the ball specifically, they're extremely liable to get pantsed by whoever they're playing. It's a major part of their identity.
Henry, in particular, has started to look like a 32-year-old running back with over 13,500 carries on his personal odometer. The veteran running back has 34 carries for 93 total yards (a paltry 2.7 yards per attempt) and zero touchdowns over his last two games. Yes, Lamar Jackson isn't healthy and hasn't played for a few weeks, but that sort of production from the
Ravens' bell cow tailback just won't cut it if Baltimore wants to contend. Not one bit.
Henry agrees. When asked to give his assessment of the Ravens' struggling running game in the postgame on Sunday, Henry kept his review succinct. There's no greater detail necessary than simply noting that no one is getting anything going out of the backfield:
Derrick Henry on the run game: “Just not making any plays. Stagnant.”
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) October 25, 2026
Here's the thing. Henry and the Ravens' overall running game will probably look better whenever Jackson returns because his ability to be dynamic takes a lot of pressure and attention off everyone else. That's usually what you expect from an MVP-caliber quarterback. But it's stunning that the Ravens fall off this much on the ground without Jackson. Henry is the sort of player who should be able to dominate in his own right week in and week out.
Are we finally witnessing the decline of one of the greatest power running backs of all time? Maybe, but it's still too early to say for sure. For now, Henry has earned the benefit of the doubt and the chance to look like himself again when his quarterback returns to the field.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Derrick Henry's frustrated 6-word review of Ravens' running game said it all
