How Cincinnati can slow Derrick Henry and the Ravens without Lamar Jackson

The Cincinnati Bengals got some good news on Saturday afternoon, as superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson will not play in Sunday’s divisional game in Baltimore. This is the third consecutive game that Jackson will miss, and it also severely limits the Ravens' offense. 

Baltimore is coming off a 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns in which Derrick Henry rushed for just 58 yards on 17 attempts. It was the second time this season that Henry has rushed under 20 times, and the Ravens lost the other game as well, 24-17 against the New Orleans Saints. 

Clearly, the current Baltimore Ravens have a blueprint on how to beat them. Make Tyler Huntley beat you, and lock in on the running game. His longest rush against the Saints was eight yards, and his longest against the Browns was 17. 

Henry has played the Bengals eight times in his career, for three 100-yard games, including one since joining the Ravens in the 2024 season. He has eclipsed 20 attempts only once in those eight matchups and has never scored more than one touchdown against the Bengals. 

Cincinnati has a below-average rushing defense, allowing 5 yards per carry (30th in the NFL) and 123 yards per game (23rd in the league). They will have an uphill battle stopping one of the NFL's best and most dangerous ball carriers, but it won’t be impossible. Cincinnati needs to stop Henry at the line of scrimmage and make it as easy as possible for the Bengals' linebackers and safeties, who have struggled with tackling so far this season. 

It’s never as easy as stopping one player; Snoop Huntley has had some good moments when filling in for Lamar Jackson over his career. That includes Baltimore’s win over the Falcons, in which he completed 24-of-32 passes for two touchdowns. Henry also carried the ball 24 times for 102 yards. 

Zay Flowers will also be important to stop, but if I’m Zac Taylor or Al Golden, I’m playing man coverage and loading the box, especially since DJ Turner has shown elite CB1 production through the early parts of the season. Another thing Cincinnati has to worry about is Mark Andrews. Not because he is an elite tight end, which he was earlier in his career, but because they have struggled so much against tight ends, allowing over 90 yards per game. 

I still think locking in on Henry is the best course of action. He has been, and still is, one of the league's most explosive and dominant running backs.