Baltimore got off to a slow start on Saturday before kicking things into gear on both sides of the football.
All-Pro quarterback Lamar Jackson was 7 of 11 passing, for 52 yards, one touchdown, and a 105.1 quarterback rating. Jackson had runs of 23 yards and 15 yards in the second quarter, scoring a drive that put the Ravens up 10-3 on the youthful Texans.
Houston responded on special teams, as recently elevated running back Steven Sims brought a punt return back 67 yards with 5:00 left in the first half.
With both teams back on the field, we’re looking at ten takeaways from the first half.
1
Special Teams Blunder
STEVEN SIMS 67-YARD PUNT RETURN TD FOR THE TEXANS.
📺: #HOUvsBAL on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/mOqD2jfu4M pic.twitter.com/y0miqMggP1— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2024
After Lamar Jackson got dropped for a short gain on third down by Christian Harris, the Texans tied the game up with a Steven Sims 67 yard punt return.
Game changer.
📺: #HOUvsBAL on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/mOqD2jfu4M pic.twitter.com/Sx70xjaXS2— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2024
2
Nelson Agholor sighting
The former Eagles first round pick and nine year veteran scored his first career postseason touchdown on a nicely designed pitch and catch from Lamar Jackson.
Lamar to Agholor! @Ravens take a 10-3 lead.
📺: #HOUvsBAL on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/mOqD2jfu4M pic.twitter.com/LzW5RFrW24— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2024
Agholor had that one catch for three yards and the touchdown.
3
Dalton Schultz
The Texans tight end had two catches for 30 yards in the first half.
4
Texans penalties
One of the NFL’s youngest teams showed their inexperience early on, eight penalties for 50 yards in the first half.
The #Texans 6 penalties were the most in the 1st quarter by any team in any playoff game since at least 2000.#WeAreTexans
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) January 20, 2024
5
Justin Madubuike
The All-Pro had two tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit in a dominant first half.
6
Ravens blitzing C.J. Stroud
The Ravens effect:
C.J. Stroud was pressured on 50% of dropbacks in the first quarter (7 of 14 dropbacks), per @ESPNStatsInfo.
He was pressured on 8 dropbacks TOTAL in the Wild Card win over the Browns.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 20, 2024
7
Texans rushing attack-Ravens defense
Houston had 8 rushes for 14 yards, as Devin Singletary led the Texans with 6 carries for 8 yards (1.3 YPC) in the first half.
8
Texans blitzing Lamar
After struggling to keep Jackson in the pocket, the Texans adjusted and started to bring the blitz.
The Texans, who don't blitz much, have done it at least three times in that first drive, hoping to speed Lamar Jackson up.
It's had mixed results.
Regardless, Texans prevent a TD from happening.
Ravens 3 Texans 0, 8:36 left in Q1
— Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) January 20, 2024
9
C.J. Stroud
Stroud had one of the best throws of the postseason with a 26 yard dime to Devin Singletary early on.
In the first half, the Texans rookie star was 11 of 20 passing, for 131 yards and a 75.2 quarterback rating.
10
Lamar Jackson the rusher
.@Ravens @Lj_era8 is the MVP! pic.twitter.com/AF7oxpau40
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) January 20, 2024
The Texans were holding strong before Jackson took off for a 23-yard run at the end of the first quarter. He has 4 carries for 34 yards.
Lamarvelous!
Tune in on ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/wGRN14f2St
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 20, 2024
Jackson had 6 carries for 50 yards in the first half.
11
Ravens pass catchers
Six different Ravens caught a pass, as Zay Flowers led the charge with two catches for 25 yards in the first half. Odell Beckham had one catch for 12 yards and Rashod Bateman had one catch for 9 yards.
