The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Houston Texans 34-10 in the AFC Divisional playoff game on Saturday, advancing to host the AFC Championship game next weekend. The win was fueled by a profanity-laced halftime speech by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson that lit a fire under the team after a lackluster first half performance.
Slow Start for Ravens Before Halftime Explosion
The heavily favored Ravens found themselves in a surprising 10-10 tie at halftime, unable to pull away from the underdog Texans. Jackson had struggled, throwing an interception and fumbling once while leading the offense to just 10 first half points.
Tensions boiled over in the locker room at halftime, as Jackson unleashed an expletive-filled tirade at his teammates, questioning their effort and commitment.
“What the f*** are we doing?” Jackson demanded, according to sources in the locker room. “We’re playing like s. They’re not better than us, we just aren’t executing. Everyone needs to step the f up!”
The explicit outburst stunned Jackson’s teammates, who had never seen their usually mild-mannered quarterback so fired up.
But the harsh halftime speech had its intended effect. The Ravens exploded in the second half, outscoring the Texans 24-0 while holding Houston’s offense completely scoreless.
Second Half Dominated by Ravens Defense and Running Game
The Ravens defense clamped down after halftime, finally containing electric Texans rookie quarterback CJ Stroud while forcing him into multiple turnovers. Stroud had success early on but the Baltimore pass rush tightened up and the secondary took away his options downfield.
Stroud reflected on his impressive debut season after the loss, focusing on the positives. “I set a great foundation for the standard here in Houston,” he told reporters. “Our future is bright.”
With Jackson still struggling to find consistency in the passing game, the Ravens rode their powerful running game in the second half. Led by Jackson, J.K. Dobbins, and Gus Edwards, the Ravens ground attack wore down Houston’s defense.
Baltimore rushed for 236 total yards on the day, gashing a Texans defense that had no answers. Jackson provided the highlight of the night with an electric 25 yard touchdown scramble late in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
| Ravens Rushing Leaders | Att | Yards | Avg | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar Jackson | 16 | 123 | 7.7 | 1 |
| JK Dobbins | 15 | 62 | 4.1 | 1 |
| Gus Edwards | 11 | 51 | 4.6 | 0 |
The decisive second half performance, fueled by Jackson’s halftime eruption, sends the Ravens to the AFC Championship game next Sunday. They will host the winner of Sunday’s Bills-Chiefs matchup.
Looking Ahead to Baltimore’s First AFC Title Game Appearance Since 2012
In a decade dominated by early playoff exits and disappointing finishes, this Ravens team hopes to conjure memories of the 2012 squad led by Jackson’s predecessor Joe Flacco that won Super Bowl XLVII.
Ravens fans have suffered through 8 playoff-less seasons since that championship. But after Saturday night’s cathartic victory, the hopes and expectations are soaring in Baltimore for Jackson to lead this team back to the Promised Land.
The Ravens will need to clean up Jackson’s up and down performance in the passing game going forward. Star tight end Mark Andrews suffered a brutal helmet-to-helmet hit from the Texans defense on Saturday that knocked him out of the game. His health and availability next weekend is uncertain and would be a huge loss.
But the rushing attack and aggressive defense showed they can carry the load if needed. With home field advantage at frenzied M&T Bank Stadium, the Ravens appear poised to give a heavyweight fight to whoever emerges from Sunday’s contest.
Lamar Jackson and this group have exercised plenty of playoff demons with two cathartic playoff wins now over Pittsburgh and Houston. But the road doesn’t get any easier next week against Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow.
Can Jackson cap his transcendent MVP-level season by taking the next, and biggest, step against an AFC juggernaut? Ravens fans and players alike have waited a long time for this shot at redemption. After Saturday night’s explosion, the hopes have never burned brighter in Baltimore for this star-crossed franchise.
More Information and Sources:
Lamar Jackson has Ravens fans dreaming of Super Bowl
Jackson’s inappropriate halftime speech motivated Ravens
Ravens destroy Texans 34-10 behind Lamar Jackson’s huge day
Texans’ glaring weakness exposed in loss to Ravens
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