Ravens and Texans Dominant in Wildcard Wins, Advancing to NFL Divisional Round
On Saturday, both the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans delivered impressive performances, earning their places in the second week of the NFL playoffs. The Ravens overpowered the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14, while the Texans shocked the Los Angeles Chargers with a commanding 32-12 victory.
Ravens' Ground Game Dismantles Steelers
The Ravens dominated the Steelers through their powerhouse rushing game, which led the league throughout the regular season. Baltimore finished with an astounding 299 rushing yards, setting a new postseason franchise record. Derrick Henry stole the spotlight with two touchdowns, while Lamar Jackson delivered an exceptional performance, passing for 175 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to 81 rushing yards.
Baltimore came out strong, taking a 21-0 lead into halftime. Jackson opened the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman. Henry added a rushing score, and Jackson showcased his athleticism, evading pressure and finding Justice Hill for another touchdown. The Steelers responded with a touchdown from Van Jefferson but were quickly shut down again when Henry sprinted for a 44-yard score. Pittsburgh added a late touchdown in the third quarter, but the Ravens' commanding lead proved too much for them to overcome.
Texans' Defense Shines in Victory Over Chargers
In an earlier Wildcard game, the Houston Texans stifled the Los Angeles Chargers' offense with a relentless defensive display, leaving Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in disarray. Despite finishing the regular season with an 11-6 record, the Chargers were no match for Houston's defense, as Herbert was intercepted four times, an uncharacteristic performance for the usually reliable QB.
The game started with field goals from both teams before Houston seized control with a thrilling end to the first half. Quarterback CJ Stroud, who had a brief mishap fumbling a snap near his own end zone, managed to recover and connect with Nico Collins for a 37-yard touchdown, giving the Texans a 10-6 lead heading into halftime.
In the second half, Houston’s defense continued to shine. The Texans intercepted Herbert on consecutive drives, with safety Eric Murray returning one pick for a 38-yard touchdown to make it 20-6. The Chargers’ struggles were compounded by a blocked extra point attempt on their next touchdown, which was recovered and returned by D'Angelo Ross for a score, further highlighting Houston’s dominance.
Joe Mixon sealed the deal for Houston with a 17-yard rushing touchdown, finishing with 106 rushing yards. Collins played a pivotal role in the win, racking up 122 receiving yards, while cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. made his mark with two interceptions.
Wildcard Weekend continues with three more games on Sunday, culminating in one final matchup on Monday.
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