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DJ Bien Aime
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DJ Bien Aime
ESPN
- DJ Bien-Aime covers the Houston Texans for ESPN. He joined ESPN in July 2022 after covering the New York Jets. He is a former athlete who finished his college career at Louisville. You can catch DJ on ESPN Radio on his show, “Talkin’ Texans.”
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Jaime Hensley
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Jaime Hensley
ESPN Writer
- Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens starting in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association’s Maryland Sports Writer of the Year award in 2018 and is the author of a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore. Crows. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000 to 2011.
Behind an unrelenting rushing attack and a dominating defense, the Ravens are in control of their division fate after routing the Houston Texans 31-2 on Christmas Day. It was an embarrassing performance for the Texans, who failed to score a touchdown thanks to a sluggish offensive performance.
It was a record-breaking day for Jackson, who surpassed Michael Vick as the NFL’s all-time leading rushing quarterback.
The Ravens’ defense hammered Texans quarterback CJ Stroud, producing five sacks and one interception. Baltimore would have recorded its first shutout since October 2018 if not for Henry’s second-quarter safety.
Here are the keys to the game:
Promising trend: The Ravens scored a touchdown on their opening drive for the first time in 12 weeks. Capping the 75-yard drive, Henry scored on a 2-yard run for his 16th touchdown, which set the Ravens’ single-season record. It also ended a four-game touchdown drought for Henry, the third longest of his career.
Fundamental game:
Surprising Statistic: Jaime Hensley
Next match: vs. Browns (January 5, TBD)
In a test to see if they could compete with the AFC’s best, the Texans came out badly against the Ravens and did nothing right. They allowed Henry to run for 147 yards and a touchdown. They also gave up a 48-yard rushing touchdown and two passing touchdowns to Jackson, who had a passer rating of 143. Houston’s rushing attack was nonexistent, totaling 58 yards while Stroud had a subpar performance totaling 185 passing yards with an interception. He took five sacks and it was the first time in Stroud’s career that he had no scoring drives.
Describe the game in two words: No fight. The Texans were physically dominated from the get-go, allowing the Ravens to rush for 115 yards in the opening quarter, the most the Texans have given up in a first quarter this season. Houston never mustered any energy the rest of the game.
QB Breakdown: This was perhaps the most disappointing performance of Stroud’s NFL career. The offense is missing star wideouts Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, but Stroud was off target on eight throws, his second most this season. He also failed to score any points for the offense for the first time in his young career.
Biggest hole in the game plan: Missing two of his best receivers, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik gave Mixon just nine carries, while Stroud had 36 drops. In the first half, when the Texans were down 10-0 and the game was still within reach, Slowik had a 13-play stretch in which he called 12 pass plays.
Prediction for next week: Texans starters play only a quarter against the Tennessee Titans. Houston is locked into the No. 4 seed, so there’s little incentive for the Texans to play starters for long in Week 18. Risking important players being hurt isn’t worth it, especially when safety Jimmie Ward, nickel Jalen Pitre, Diggs and Dell They are already out for the season. — DJ Bien Aime
Next match: at Titans (January 5, TBD)
