It’s hardly a surprise that the Baltimore Ravens are pretty much 10-point favorites to defeat their bitter rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers for the second time in just three weeks: Baltimore have won their past four games by an average of 23 points (including that 34-17 dismantling of Pittsburgh last month), while the reeling Steelers have dropped four straight, averaging a measly 14.3 points in that period.
And sure, while Pittsburgh eked out a narrow 18-16 win back in November, they won’t have the comforts of home to rely on tonight, nor will they be up against November Derrick Henry.
Late season King Henry is a force of nature to be reckoned with: The running back, who just turned 31, has excelled over the course of his nine years in the NFL as fall turns to winter, the weather gets colder, and defenses find the toll of the season catching up. In the month of December alone, Henry’s stats are formidable: More rushing yards per game, more yards per carry and – crucially – more touchdowns than in any other full regular-season month (January isn’t exactly shabby either, with 144.3 rushing yards over four games).
And there’s no reason to think that the Steelers will be able to contain Henry tonight, with not only historical data in his favor but that recent December 21 encounter finding Henry rushing for just the 162 yards, which meant he exceeded 1,500 yards for the fourth time in his career (if it’s any consolation for Pittsburgh, he didn’t find the end zone that night).
Ultimately, volume might be king and that’s not only a play on Henry’s nickname, considering he has surpassed 99 rushing yards in nine of his 17 games this season. So, if the Steelers have 99 problems tonight, you can bet that Henry is indeed one of them.
Swiss
Related News :