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Jackson produces perfect passer rating, Henry scores 2 more touchdowns as Ravens beat Broncos 41-10
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Jackson produces perfect passer rating, Henry scores 2 more touchdowns as Ravens beat Broncos 41-10

BALTIMORE — Lamar Jackson threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns to finish with a perfect passer rating, Derrick Henry passed a few more rushing milestones and the Baltimore Ravens had little trouble with Denver’s defense in a victory 41-10 Sunday.

Baltimore’s beleaguered defense didn’t force a punt until the third quarter, but a few early stops on fourth down helped the Ravens (6-3) take a lead as they bounced back from the weekend’s surprising loss -last weekend in Cleveland. Zay Flowers had five catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns, and Henry rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns.

Rookie quarterback Bo Nix caught a touchdown pass on a tricky play for Denver, but the Broncos (5-4) looked overmatched early in a tough two-game stretch of their schedule. They visit Kansas City next weekend.

Henry scored the 100th and 101st rushing touchdowns of his career, and he surpassed 1,000 rushing yards this season for the sixth time. Henry has scored in every game this season, and he is the third player to have at least 10 rushing touchdowns in seven consecutive years, joining LaDainian Tomlinson (2001-09) and Adrian Peterson (2007-13).

Jackson completed 16 of 19 passes. The perfect passer rating of 158.3 was the fourth of his career.

Baltimore led 17-10 after a Denver field goal with 54 seconds left in the first half. Then the Ravens struck on both sides of the half. Flowers caught a pass over the middle and took it into the end zone for a 53-yard touchdown with 16 seconds left in the second quarter. Baltimore got the ball back to start the third and made it 31-10 on a 6-yard run by Henry.

Denver had only allowed two teams to reach 20 points this season, but the game against Baltimore’s powerful offense didn’t go well. The Broncos defense held after an early Nix interception, but after Denver was stopped on fourth-and-1, the Ravens drove 57 yards and opened the scoring on Henry’s 7-yard run.

Baltimore Ravens receiver Zay Flowers, front, catches a pass...

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, front, catches a pass for a touchdown as Denver Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian covers the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday 3 November 2024, in Baltimore. Credit: AP/Stéphanie Scarbrough

Another failure on fourth down — Nix overthrew an open Troy Franklin deep — was followed by a Baltimore field goal that made it 10-0.

The Broncos finally converted on fourth down from the Baltimore 2 with a tricky play – a reverse pass from receiver Courtland Sutton to Nix. The Ravens defended it decently, but Nix was able to catch it across the goal line for a touchdown.

Jackson responded with a 7-yard scoring pass to Flowers to give Baltimore a 17-7 lead.

Fullback Patrick Ricard caught Jackson’s final touchdown throw of the day, a 3-yarder on third down.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, is pursued by Denver...

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, is chased by Denver Broncos linebacker Baron Browning in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Baltimore . Credit: AP/Stéphanie Scarbrough

Injuries

Baltimore CB Marlon Humphrey returned from a knee injury that kept him out last weekend. Jackson didn’t seem at all bothered by back and knee issues after missing a few practices during the week.

To be continued

Broncos: At Kansas City on Sunday.

Ravens: Host Cincinnati on Thursday night.