Ravens cruise as Steelers head home early again

BALTIMORE -- Lamar Jackson threw for 2 touchdowns successful a flawless first half, Derrick Henry scored doubly while starring Baltimore's devastating moving game, and the Ravens hit the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14 connected Saturday nighttime to beforehand to the 2nd information of the AFC playoffs.

The Ravens move connected to look either Buffalo aliases Houston aft jumping retired to a 21-0 halftime lead and holding connected against their AFC North rivals. Baltimore had a 19-2 advantage successful first downs successful the first half, erstwhile the Ravens produced touchdown drives of 95, 85 and 90 yards,

Henry ran for 186 yards, and Baltimore outrushed the Steelers 299-29. It was the astir yards rushing allowed by Pittsburgh successful a playoff game, breaking the people of 232 group by the Oakland Raiders 51 years ago.

Jackson, the two-time MVP still seeking a postseason breakthrough, made it clear from the commencement he was going to make Pittsburgh (10-8) take sides his limb and his legs. He kept the chains moving, and the Ravens (13-5) were happy to beforehand the shot methodically against a Steelers squad that has relied heavy this play connected forcing turnovers.

Pittsburgh's play ends pinch 5 consecutive losses, 2 of which came successful Baltimore. The ending was a acquainted communicative for the Steelers, who person mislaid six consecutive playoff games. The past 3 times they've been successful the postseason, they've fallen connected the roadworthy successful games that person exemplified the spread betwixt Pittsburgh and the conference's existent contenders.

The Ravens had 10 touchdown drives of astatine slightest 90 yards successful the regular season, the astir by a squad since astatine slightest 2000. They started astatine their ain 5 connected their first possession and drove 13 plays for a touchdown.

The Steelers person made a wont precocious of winning tight games against the Ravens, capitalizing connected Baltimore mistakes. The Ravens avoided that problem Saturday, taking fewer awesome risks.

They did get imaginative connected the first drive, lining Henry up for a nonstop threat from halfway while Jackson came crossed and faked a sweep. Henry kept the shot for a 34-yard gain. Jackson capped the possession pinch a 15-yard scoring onslaught to Rashod Bateman, who was Baltimore's apical patient receiver pinch Zay Flowers (knee) unavailable.

Jackson went 16 of 21 for 175 yards and rushed for 81.

Henry made it 14-0 pinch an 8-yard tally pinch 4:09 near successful the half. After a Pittsburgh punt, the Steelers called timeout connected third-and-2 from the Baltimore 18, hoping to get the shot back, but the Ravens converted and past quickly moved into position to score.

On 2nd down from the Pittsburgh 5 pinch 11 seconds left, Jackson astir utilized up the remaining clip scrambling around, but he yet dumped the shot disconnected to an unfastened Justice Hill, who went into the extremity area pinch 2 seconds left.

The Steelers drove 98 yards for a touchdown connected their first second-half possession, pinch Russell Wilson throwing a 30-yard scoring walk to Van Jefferson. Baltimore quickly answered erstwhile Henry collapsed free up the mediate for a 44-yard TD -- Pittsburgh defenders were caught retired of position because Jackson faked a tally to the near aft handing the shot off.

Wilson answered pinch a 36-yard touchdown onslaught to George Pickens successful the third, but that was it for the scoring. Wilson went 20 of 29 for 270 yards connected a nighttime erstwhile neither squad turned the shot over.