Sports

Ravens' dynamic duo of Henry and Jackson help lead a rushing renaissance in the NFL

October 16, 2024 / 7:40 PM EDT / AP

Purple Connection: Baltimore Ravens run their winning streak to four games

The running game has had a bit of a renaissance early this season thanks in part to a dynamic duo in Baltimore off to a historic start.

NFL teams are rushing at the highest rate through six weeks since 2008, with teams averaging a record-high 4.5 yards per carry and the most yards rushing per game at this point in a season in 40 years.

The average of 121.7 yards rushing per game for teams is the highest through six weeks in a non-replacement player season since 1984, when it was at 124.6.

The Ravens are playing a big part in that thanks to the predictable success of pairing perhaps the NFL's best rushing quarterback with the most prolific running back of his generation.

Derrick Henry has 704 yards rushing and nine total touchdowns in his first six games since signing with Baltimore, while Lamar Jackson has run for 403 yards.

Only one other team since at least 1948 has had one player rush for at least 400 yards and another for at least 600 yards in the first six games of a season. Joe Perry (501) and J.D. Smith (604) did it for San Francisco in 1959.

Baltimore's 1,232 yards rushing this season are the fourth most through six games since 1980, trailing the 2006 Falcons (1,333), the 1984 Bears (1,330) and the 1980 Lions (1,299).

The Ravens have been the NFL's top rushing team every since Jackson took over as starter in 2018 and have two of the three longest streaks in NFL history of rushing for at least 100 yards. Baltimore just did it for the 39th straight game. The Ravens are tied for the longest streak with 43 from 2018-21. The Steelers also did that from 1974-77.

Jackson is averaging 254.8 yards passing per game and 67.2 on the ground and is on pace to join Michael Vick as the only players in history to average at least 250 yards passing and at least 50 rushing for a season. Vick did it in 2010 for Philadelphia.

Jackson moved past Cam Newton into second place in career yards rushing for a quarterback last week with 5,661. He needs 449 more to break Vick's record of 6,109.