The Baltimore Ravens dominated the Houston Texans in the second of two NFL games on Christmas Day, winning 31-2 on the road.
MVP candidate Lamar Jackson was sensational, completing 10 of 15 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 87 yards and another score.
Jackson was aided by a dominant rushing attack. Derrick Henry carried the ball 27 times for 147 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens as a team ran 43 times for 251 yards.
C.J. Stroud struggled for the Texans. He completed 17 of 31 passes for only 185 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Stroud was also sacked five times.
Baltimore began the game with an eight-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown. After a Houston punt, the Ravens took a 10-0 lead with a field goal on their next drive.
The Texans’ only score in the first half came on a safety in the second quarter. But they turned the ball over on downs on their next possession, and Baltimore answered with a 99-yard scoring drive to take a 17-2 lead the team into halftime.
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In the third quarter, Stroud was intercepted on Houston’s first drive, leading to a Ravens touchdown. After a Texans three-and-out, Baltimore added another touchdown on a 10-play drive to go up 31-2.
With the Pittsburgh Steelers losing earlier, the Ravens moved into first place in the AFC North and third place in the conference overall. Their final game of the season is against the Cleveland Browns.
Houston fell to 9-7 with the loss, but the team has already clinched the AFC South. The Texans finish their regular season with a game against the Tennessee Titans.
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Final: Ravens 31, Texans 2
That’s all for the NFL on Christmas!
The Ravens dominated the Texans in the late, shutting down their offense while Lamar Jackson made MVP-caliber play after MVP-caliber play.
Baltimore is now in first place in the AFC North after today’s win.
Ravens punt after running down the clock
The Ravens are punting again, but more importantly for them they took over seven minutes off the clock with their 31-2 lead.
The Texans’ offense us back on the field with 3:23 to go and Davis Mills is in for C.J. Stroud.
Lamar Jackson is done for the day
Lamar Jackson has been taken out of the game with the Ravens leading 31-2. He’s already signing autographs for fans to give you an idea of how over this game is.
Texans go three-and-out
...And the Texans can’t do anything after the Ravens punt, going three-and-out and punting the ball right back.
The Ravens will take over with 10:24 left in the fourth and presumably trying to run out the clock.
Ravens punt
The Ravens punted after eight plays. Don’t think they’re sweating it very hard with their 31-2 lead, though.
End of third: Ravens 31, Texans 2
The Ravens have dominated this game from the jump and they’ll take a big lead into the fourth quarter.
Baltimore has been impressive on both sides of the ball, and Lamar Jackson has made play after play.
The Ravens will have a 1st-and-10 on their own 23 when the fourth begins.
Texans turn the ball over on downs
After a sack on third down, C.J. Stroud threw too short of the sticks on 4th-and-7, only picking up six yards.
It needed a replay to be overturned to the right call, but the Texans turned the ball over on downs. Their offense has been pitiful today. Stroud is under 200 yards on 29 attempts and he’s been sacked five times.
The Ravens take over with a 31-2 lead with 2:15 left in the third quarter.
Lamar Jackson is now the NFL’s all-time leading rusher for a QB
With his four carries for 87 yards today, Lamar Jackson became the NFL’s all-time leading rusher for a quarterback, overtaking Michael Vick.
Jackson is currently ahead of Vick by one yard, with 6,110 career rushing yards.
Only 27, Jackson is in his seventh year with the Ravens.
Touchdown, Ravens!
Lamar Jackson is making an MVP statement today.
After a rushing touchdown on the Ravens’ last drive, Jackson found Mark Andrews from one yard out for his second touchdown pass of the game.
Jackson is now up to 163 yards passing in addition 87 yards rushing and three total touchdowns.
Baltimore is dominating and now leading 31-2.