Derrick Henry’s blistering start for Ravens includes stiff‑arm TD, 107th career rushing touchdown

Derrick Henry opened the 2025 regular season in vintage fashion Sunday night, powering the Baltimore Ravens with a show‑stopping stiff‑arm touchdown and racking up more than 100 rushing yards by the middle of the second quarter.

The 31‑year‑old, listed at 6‑foot‑3 and 250 pounds in his 10th NFL season, barreled into the end zone after driving Bills safety Cole Bishop aside on a play that set the tone for what quickly became a dominant ground outing. By midway through the second quarter he had gained 100 yards on seven carries, and his touchdown made it the 107th rushing score of his career, moving him past Jim Brown into sixth on the NFL’s all‑time rushing touchdown list.

Henry’s early success drew immediate reaction on social media. Former NFL player and broadcaster Pat McAfee tweeted, “Annual ‘Derrick Henry is way too damn big to be that athletic’ tweet,” while Sports Illustrated reporter Albert Breer wrote, “Not sure how Derrick Henry still looks like this in his 10th year.” A fan using the handle Captain Touchback posted, “For some people their worst nightmare may be falling from a plane. For defensive backs…it’s Derrick Henry with momentum.”

Sunday night’s touchdown elevated Henry past Jim Brown’s total of 106 rushing touchdowns and placed Walter Payton’s career mark of 110 in his immediate sights. Henry’s output against Buffalo was his most decisive early‑season statement since joining Baltimore and followed pre‑season questions about whether he could sustain elite production after turning 30.

The performance carried implications for the Ravens’ offense, which relied on Henry’s physical running to control tempo and posture against a Bills defense that had prepared for multiple threats. The play that culminated in the touchdown began with pressure from Baltimore’s blocking scheme and ended with Henry physically disengaging Bishop to reach the end zone, a sequence that underscored his blend of power and momentum.

Henry’s career totals and the early pace of his 2025 campaign will be tracked closely as the season progresses. Should he continue producing at a similar clip, he will be positioned to challenge Payton’s long‑standing rushing touchdown total in the coming weeks.

The Ravens have multiple games left on their early schedule, and Henry’s status as a focal point of Baltimore’s offense was reinforced by his performance against Buffalo. Coaches and teammates cited the need to maintain balance and protect the running back from heavy workload as the season advances, while opponents will adjust game plans in response to his renewed early‑season dominance.