Lamar Jackson, Ravens run away from Texans in second half

The Baltimore Ravens leaned on Lamar Jackson and their working sport to tug away from the Houston Texans within the second half of the AFC divisional spherical matchup to choose up a 34-10 victory.

The Ravens will face the winner of Sunday’s sport between the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Buffalo Payments within the AFC Championship Sport on Jan. 28.

The Ravens rushed for 229 yards with 134 of these coming within the second half. Jackson accounted for 100 of Baltimore’s speeding yards and added two scores along with his toes on prime of throwing for 152 passing and two scores.

Baltimore and Houston have been tied 10-10 on the half, however after opening the third quarter with a 37-yard kick return from receiver Devin Duvernay, Jackson led the Ravens on a six-play, 55-yard drive that ended with him scoring on a 15-yard run.

Baltimore scored on its subsequent three possessions, with Jackson discovering tight finish Isaiah Probably with a 15-yard landing go, speeding 8 yards for a TD after which a 43-yard Justin Tucker subject aim to cap off the victory.

Whereas Jackson and the Ravens discovered success on the bottom, Baltimore’s protection made certain Houston’s offense was unable to do the identical. The Ravens restricted the Texans to 38 yards speeding and a pair of.7 per carry.

With no constant speeding assault and an offense that was penalized eight instances, Texans rookie QB C.J. Stroud was unable to search out the identical success he loved within the wild-card spherical.

Stroud completed 19-of-33 for 175 yards, and Houston’s offense was unable to attain a landing. The Texans’ solely landing got here on a 67-yard punt return from receiver Steven Sims within the second quarter.

Second-half changes made massive distinction for Ravens

The Ravens had no solutions for the Texans blitzes within the first half. Jackson was sacked thrice and didn’t seem snug in any respect. Nonetheless, offensive coordinator Todd Monken made some changes. The Ravens got here out within the second half and have been extra aggressive passing on early downs.

Jackson received the ball out shortly. There have been extra choices within the fast sport. The offensive line was a lot better in safety. On the primary three drives of the second half, the Ravens scored three touchdowns on six-, 12- and 11-play drives. — Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens beat author

The Ravens confirmed their poise

There was loads of anxiousness within the capability crowd at halftime, when the Ravens, 9 1/2 level favorites, have been tied with the Texans at halftime. Ravens followers had seen this film earlier than. It felt like 2019 once more when the Ravens entered the divisional matchup in opposition to the Tennessee Titans coming off a bye and with the highest seed and have been promptly crushed 28-12 by the Titans. The Ravens insisted that they discovered from that have, and Saturday confirmed that that they had. The Ravens didn’t panic. They made changes at halftime they usually ran the Texans off the sphere within the second half. — Zrebiec

What went improper for Houston

For a quick second, late within the second quarter, it felt just like the Texans had their likelihood: not solely had Sims’ 67-yard punt return tied the sport, however Stroud was heating up. Shortly. The M&T Financial institution Stadium crowd, raucous in the beginning, had quieted, and the perfect underdog script was unfolding.

However the missed probabilities saved piling up. A 47-yard missed subject aim from Ka’imi Fairbairn that may’ve given the Texans a 13-10 halftime lead. The penalties. So, so many penalties. (By sport’s finish, 11 in all, together with 4 false begins). And a Ravens’ offense that, after struggling to search out solutions for Houston’s blitz early, was brutally environment friendly all through the second half. Jackson was at his finest, and the Texans had no reply.

And with it, the AFC’s prime seed pulled away.

The Texans (11-8) failed to attain an offensive landing for the primary time since Week 1 — additionally a loss in Baltimore. Stroud was stymied by the Ravens’ rush, not often seeing a clear pocket or receiver with a lot separation within the again finish. He completed with simply 175 passing yards, ending one of the prolific seasons from a rookie quarterback in league historical past. — Zak Keefer, senior NFL author

Required studying

 (Photograph: Patrick Smith / Getty Pictures)