Derrick Henry isn’t sugarcoating it after the Baltimore Ravens’ ugly 35-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals: his play was “terrible.” The veteran running back finished the game with a measly 45 yards on 17 carries, a performance he fully owned when talking to local media. This wasn’t just a bad outing for Henry; it highlighted a growing problem for an offense that completely unraveled after holding a 13-0 lead at halftime.
“It’s Not Good Enough At All”: Henry Takes The Blame
You gotta respect a player who looks in the mirror. Henry didn’t point fingers at the Bengals’ defense when asked what changed in the second half. “I don’t think it was more so what they were doing. Me, I [have] got to be better. It’s not good enough. [It was] terrible. I’m looking at myself.” That’s a brutal self-assessment, but it speaks volumes. The Ravens offense, and specifically the run game, couldn’t sustain anything after the break. They were up 13-0, looking good, and then, *poof*, production vanished. Henry’s frustration wasn’t just with his numbers, but the unit’s inability to make an impact when they needed it most to win games or string drives together.
No Explosives, Just Stagnation for Baltimore’s Offense
This isn’t a one-off for Baltimore. Henry’s self-criticism reflects a larger issue for an offense that’s struggled for two consecutive weeks. Sure, they moved the ball effectively early against Cincinnati, but they couldn’t build on it, and the running game offered zilch once the Bengals took over. Henry hit it right on the head: “We just [aren’t] making the plays. We are stagnant, not effective. There are no explosives.” Head coach Jesse Minter even acknowledged the concern about the running game after the loss. With Lamar Jackson sidelined, the Ravens are desperate for their ground game to be that reliable anchor, but Henry’s performance did nothing to ease those worries. This team needs to solve the riddle, and fast.
So, what now? Baltimore has zero time to wallow, with the Buffalo Bills up next on the schedule. Henry still sounds confident in the group, but let’s be real, optimism alone isn’t going to fix this. They need execution. They need to refocus, lock back in, and evaluate themselves honestly, as Henry said. Until that running game starts churning out effective, explosive plays and sustains drives, the questions about this offense are just going to keep piling up. Can they find the answers before it’s too late?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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