Welcome to the Baltimore Ravens, Derrick Henry.
The two-time rushing champion joined the Ravens this offseason after spending eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans. He started his time with the team by scoring the first touchdown of the 2024 NFL season.
On the first drive of Thursday’s NFL season opener against Kansas City, Henry plowed through the Kansas City Chiefs defense and scored a five-yard touchdown.
The goal capped an opening drive that featured Henry heavily. The drive included 11 plays and covered 70 yards. Henry carried the ball on five of those plays and gained 17 rushing yards. It’s likely a sign of things to come for a Ravens team that will likely use Henry early and often this season as part of one of the league’s most dynamic one-two punches alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Baltimore scored the touchdown despite an otherwise sloppy opening drive. The Ravens were penalized three times for illegal lineup en route to the touchdown, but managed to get three first downs and the touchdown despite the setbacks.
The Ravens’ lead didn’t last long, however. Kansas City responded with a rushing attack of its own, capped by a 21-yard touchdown run by rookie speedster Xavier Worthy on the first touchdown of his NFL career.
After more than seven months and a weather-related delay of 25 minutes, the new edition of the AFC Championship got off to a brilliant start on Thursday.
