The Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field got torn apart on Saturday night with Derrick Henry laying waste to the Green Bay defense. It was a Week 17 showdown, and the Baltimore Ravens kept their post-season dreams alive by dominating the Green Bay Packers 41-24.
But while Henry was busy rewriting the record books, the mood in Lambeau shifted from post-season talk to a total meltdown at quarterback. Despite having been playing some solid football in relief of Jordan Love, replacement starter Malik Willis went down to a shoulder injury in the game, leaving the Packers with a quarterback crisis heading into the post-season.
King Henry Takes The Throne Back For Himself: A Performance For The Ages
Derrick Henry wasn’t just beating the Packers, he was taking the heart out of them. Finishing the night with 216 yards on the ground and 4 touchdowns on an astonishing 36 carries, Henry looked every inch the unstoppable force he’s earned the “King” label for.
And to make matters worse for the rest of the league, Henry also set an all-time record. He’s now notched 7 career 200 yard plus games, which puts him ahead of Adrian Peterson and O.J. Simpson in the record books – both of whom are already Hall of Famers. And by doing so, he tied Jim Brown for the most games (14) with a player scoring 2 or more touchdowns and 150 yards or more all by himself.
From the get-go, you could tell Henry was going to be a problem – he got in the end zone 3 times by the half, powered through a Green Bay defense that was really struggling to find its footing without their star edge rusher Micah Parsons who was out for the game with a torn ACL. And to put the icing on the cake, a 25-yard TD run with just over a minute left was the final nail in the coffin on what was a ridiculously dominating performance by Henry in Lambeau Field.
Malik Willis : Heroics Cut Short by Injury
The story was the battle of the backups for all three and a half quarters. With Lamar Jackson out with a back problem and Jordan Love concussed, the focus turned to Tyler Huntley and Malik Willis.
Willis in all likelihood was the best player on the field for the Packers. He was nearly flawless through the air, completing 18 out of 21 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown, while chipping in 60 yards and two scores on the ground. That dual threat of his kept the Packers in the contest for a big part of the game, including a 22 yard zone read touchdown run that left the Ravens defence looking rather silly.
But that momentum came to an abrupt end about midway through the fourth quarter. While attempting a sideline pass to Christian Watson, Willis re-aggravated the right shoulder injury that he’d first picked up in week 16. The visible pain was immediate and Willis was forced to the locker room.
“I felt a bit of a tweak,” Willis told reporters after the game. “Guess a little bit of soreness just sort of built up to that point. I basically just used my arm on the play and it hurt that much.”
Packers QB Drama – What’s The Whole Situation Now ?
The injury to Willis was a bit of a nightmare come true. After Willis had to leave the game, third stringer Clayton Tune came on to play, but after a drop by Bo Melton his first pass was picked off by Marlon Humphrey – which basically sealed the win for Baltimore.
Now the drama is all around the health of the room. With Jordan Love still in concussion protocol and Malik Willis dealing with a nasty shoulder injury, the Packers are facing some very harsh realities. They are likely to go into the playoffs with a massive question mark over who is going to play quarterback for them.
The Packers have already got a playoff spot (thanks to the Detroit Lions losing on Christmas day), but this loss has now officially handed the NFC North title to the Chicago Bears. As a result of that the Packers have been locked into the No. 7 seed, meaning they’ll likely be on the road the whole time in the playoffs.
Ravens Playoff Fallout – The Path to the AFC North
For the Baltimore Ravens (8-8) this win was a real wake up call. They just outran the Packers 307-79, which pretty much speaks for itself.
The path forward for them is pretty clear, but not necessarily easy. The Ravens are going to have to hope that the Steelers lose to the Cleveland Browns on the Sunday. If that happens, then the week 18 showdown between Baltimore and Pittsburgh will be the winner takes all match for the division title. But if the Steelers do win on Sunday, then it’ll be game over for Baltimore despite all of the heroics of Henry.
Game Key Stats & Takeaways
| Player | Stats | Impact |
| Derrick Henry | 216 Yds, 4 TDs, 36 Carries | Set NFL record for most 200-yard games (7). |
| Malik Willis | 288 Pass Yds, 60 Rush Yds, 3 Total TDs | Played elite football before shoulder injury exit. |
| Tyler Huntley | 16/20, 107 Pass Yds, 1 TD | Managed the game perfectly, leaning on the run. |
| Christian Watson | 5 Rec, 113 Yds, 1 TD | The lone bright spot in the Packers’ receiving corps. |
Final Verdict: The Ravens proved they are still dangerous as long as #22 is in the backfield. For the Packers, the focus shifts from the scoreboard to the training room. If neither Love nor Willis can go at 100% in the Wild Card round, Green Bay’s postseason stay may be a short one.
