Derrick Henry shoves Bills safety aside in vintage start for Ravens, moves to sixth on all-time rushing TD list
Henry's stiff-arm touchdown and 100 yards on seven carries energized Baltimore's early attack and drew widespread social-media reaction
Derrick Henry put on a blistering display for the Baltimore Ravens against the Buffalo Bills Sunday night, driving into the end zone with a trademark stiff arm and piling up 100 rushing yards on seven carries by midway through the second quarter.
The 31-year-old, listed at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, bulldozed past Bills safety Cole Bishop on the touchdown run, the play drawing immediate reaction on social media and setting the tone for a performance that looked, in many respects, like a throwback to Henry's prime years.
Henry's touchdown also marked a career milestone. The run gave him his 107th career rushing touchdown, moving him past Jim Brown into sixth place on the NFL's all-time rushing touchdown list. Walter Payton remains ahead at 110 career rushing touchdowns.
The early surge quelled immediate questions about a potential decline as Henry enters his 10th NFL season. "Annual 'Derrick Henry is way too damn big to be that athletic' tweet," broadcaster Pat McAfee wrote on social media. Sports Illustrated NFL reporter Albert Breer posted, "Not sure how Derrick Henry still looks like this in his 10th year." An NFL fan using the handle Captain Touchback wrote, "For some people their worst nightmare may be falling from a plane. For defensive backs…it’s Derrick Henry with momentum."
Henry spent the first decade of his career as one of the league's most feared rushers, and his early success against Buffalo reinforced his continued effectiveness as a feature back. By the middle of the second quarter he already had opened a significant early rushing advantage, reaching triple figures on just seven carries.
The touchdown that elevated Henry on the all-time list came as the Ravens sought to establish a physical ground game against a Bills defense that has emphasized speed and pursuit. The play was notable both for its brute force — Henry clearing a path with his stiff arm — and for its historical significance in the context of NFL rushing records.
Henry's climb up the rushing touchdown leaderboard places him within striking distance of the top five, and his early-season performance renewed attention on his career totals. The Ravens' backfield production and how opposing defenses choose to respond to Henry's physical style are likely to be focal points as the regular season progresses.
Stat lines and full-game context will be updated after the final whistle and in subsequent reports, but Sunday night's outing provided a clear reminder of Henry's continuing role as a major rushing threat in the NFL.