Ravens' John Harbaugh reveals how Browns shut down Derrick Henry

Adam Schultz

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Ravens' John Harbaugh reveals how Browns shut down Derrick Henry image

The Baltimore Ravens managed to blow out the Cleveland Browns 41-17, and when you look at the scoreline, it is fair to assume that running back Derrick Henry had himself a big day.

But when looking at the stat sheet, Henry was a non-factor in the game, posting 23 yards from 11 carries, his lowest yards total since Week 15 of the 2023 season when he had just nine yards rushing against the Houston Texans.

Coming off a 169-yard game in Week 1, the Browns made it clear on defense - we won't get beat by Henry, and they didn't.

But how did they manage to render one of the best backs in football to a bystander? Ravens head coach John Harbaugh knows why.

“Well, they definitely had a bunch of guys at the line of scrimmage, and they were triggering the run right away,” Harbaugh said. “Those guys were coming downhill immediately, and they were all close to the line of scrimmage to start with. So, that was the plan for them, we're not going to get beat by the run. That's smart, it's smart football, and they had success with that part of it.”

MORE: So-so Steelers get reality check vs. Seahawks

Ravens no longer one-dimensional

Yes, we know the Ravens are a run-first team, and we also know that Lamar Jackson can sling it around the yard with the best of them.

But what the win over the Browns showed us is that when Henry is a non-factor, to the extent he was, rushing for just 23 yards, others can pick up the slack.

Henry is Baltimore's one-wood, but when that is taken away, as it was by Cleveland, you have to be able to pivot and win another way, which is exactly what the Ravens did.

Something else worth noting - have the Browns just given the rest of the NFL the blueprint to stopping King Henry?

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Adam Schultz

Adam Schultz is a freelance writer at The Sporting News. An Australian journalist with years of experience covering the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL, Adam has interviewed several high-profile athletes in Australia for various sites and brings a unique view on the NFL.