Knee-Jerk Reactions: Ravens Dismantle Texans, 31-2

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Houston Texans 31-2 on Christmas Day, and they can win the AFC North outright with a win in Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns.

RSR staff react to the win here.

Chris Schisler

The Ravens dominated the game. This was the best defensive performance of the season. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry were so good that they didn’t need to play in the fourth quarter. What the Ravens accomplished today was showing that they are in the Super Bowl conversation. There are three teams in the NFL that you don’t want to mess with: Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore.

Kyle Hamilton’s pick may have been my favorite play of the game – that was just ridiculous. The amount of misery the Ravens gave C.J. Stroud was almost sad. Stroud was off and it seemed like he was pressing after things went so poorly in the beginning of the game. If the Ravens are capable of playing defense like this against playoff teams… wow. I thought the Ravens would win the game. I had no clue they were even capable of a 31-2 kind of victory.

There were some amazing plays in this game. Lamar Jackson had a long touchdown run, Jackson escaped from a dooming pass rush to hit Mark Andrews deep down the field. Derrick Henry had a handful of runs that could have been a top highlight of the day. The offense survived a bit of an early second quarter rut. That first half safety could have been a game changing momentum turner. The Ravens defense said “No!”

There’s only one thing I am upset about in this game and it’s the phantom Marlon Humphrey pass interference. That being said it led to my favorite goal line stand since Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were Ravens. Merry Christmas. The Ravens are contenders and this game was an incredible present.

Derek Arnold

Sheesh. An absolute belt-to-butt beatdown of epic proportions. Other than the mistake Derrick Henry made by running backwards from his own two-yard line that resulted in a safety, the Ravens played a nearly flawless football game. Lamar Jackson had national media members basically changing their MVP votes to him from Josh Allen in real time. Henry was running through GAPING holes throughout the first half. The defense took advantage of the Texans’ out-manned offensive line and got after C.J. Stroud (who was pretty awful) all night long.

Henry and Jackson look extremely fresh, and now get 11 days before taking on the Cleveland Browns at home with a chance to lock up the AFC North.

Merry Christmas, Baltimore!

Jared Pinder

Ravens control their own destiny after a dominating win over the Texans. Lamar helped his MVP candidacy and Derrick Henry was awsome again. This defense however deserves so much respect. They have completely changed their identity as they look ahead to facing the ultimate boogie man for this team, going deep in the playoffs.

Nikhil Mehta

Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry made the Texans defense look like a farce, and the Ravens defense put C.J. Stroud in a blender all night. It wasn’t just a complete win, it was a dominant one on both sides of the ball. Jackson only had to pass the ball 15 times, and he still managed to fit in two touchdowns plus a rushing score of his own in yet another MVP-worthy performance. On the defensive side of the ball, everyone chipped with a number of highlight plays and crucial stops on high-leverage downs. After the Steelers’ loss earlier in the day, the Ravens can clinch the division next Sunday against the Browns, something that seemed like a distant possibility a month ago. Baltimore is getting hot at the right time, and there’s no team in the NFL that can stop them when they’re playing like this.

Kevin McNelis

The Steelers lost, and the Ravens dragged the Texans all night.

Thank you, Santa. It’s perfect.

For the third time in three weeks, the Ravens stuck with the game plan that’s served them best: efficient inside zone runs. Derrick Henry was firing on full cylinders and it opened everything else up, so the offense made it look easy. Meanwhile, the defense continues to actually get some turnovers (again, thank you, Santa).

The Ravens have it all in front of them now. The Browns did catch them off guard in their first meeting in Cleveland, but with the division on the line, they’ll need to play like it in the regular season finale.

Rob Shields

I thought this would be a low scoring game but I didn’t think it would be because one team would essentially get shutout.

Lamar didn’t have to throw it much today but he was very effective with his throws and he had 87 yards rushing on four rushes, passing Michael Vick for the all time rushing lead for a QB.

The defense played great. They held Houston to 4-17 on third and 4th down, 211 total yards and 3.4 ypc.

If I had to pick a negative, the O-line got handled at times and the speed rushers on the outside are definitely giving the Ravens some issues.

It was also nice to see Tucker with another perfect day, including another 50+ yard kick.

With the Pittsburgh loss, the Ravens now control their own destiny to win the division and host a playoff game.

As much of a pain as three games in 11 days is, they now get an extended mini bye to get some rest. Now they play one game in the next 17 days or so until the playoffs, so they will be about as rested as you can be heading into the postseason.

Nick Polinsky

The Ravens have caught their stride and the rest of the league should be worried. The offense and defense have stacked complementary performances and they now have the chance to book themselves a date right at home for the playoffs.

Lamar Jackson continued to build his MVP case and Derrick Henry was running at total will. The ease in which Lamar can escape the pocket and either take off or fire an absolute dart is truly incredible.

Both safeties once again made impact plays. Kyle Hamilton picked off a pass early in the second half and Ar’Darius Washington came up with a big fourth down stop.

Now let’s go get this home field Wild Card game.

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