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By Cole Sullivan
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The Baltimore Ravens secured a crucial Saturday night victory over the Green Bay Packers behind a strong performance from running back Derrick Henry, keeping their postseason hopes alive.
Those hopes were further boosted a day later when the Pittsburgh Steelers fell 13–6 to the Cleveland Browns. That result set up a compelling Week 18 showdown, with the Ravens and Steelers set to face off for the AFC North title. The loser of the matchup will be eliminated from playoff contention.
One of the biggest concerns leading into Sunday night’s game has been the status of Ravens' star quarterback Lamar Jackson, who missed Week 17 with a back injury and remains uncertain for the regular-season finale.
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However, on Wednesday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport provided a positive update on Jackson’s health, reporting that he is expected to return to practice. That development is an encouraging sign early in the week regarding his availability.
“There still is a question whether they will have Lamar Jackson, their star quarterback, on the field,” Rapoport said. “He’s dealing with a significant back bruise. The team thought he’d be able to return last week, but he wasn’t even able to practice. This week, though, there is some optimism that he will be back out there. Coach John Harbaugh wanted to make clear that when he is healthy, he will play and he will start.”
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If Jackson is unable to return this week, backup Tyler Huntley would once again step into the starting role. The game plan to beat the Packers would likely be similar against Pittsburgh: rely heavily on Derrick Henry.
Henry rushed 36 times for 216 yards and four touchdowns, while Huntley completed 16-of-20 passes for 107 yards and one touchdown, adding eight carries for 60 yards on the ground. While Huntley doesn’t inspire the same fear as Jackson, his play style is similar enough that the Ravens don’t need to completely overhaul their offense.
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Jackson has battled injuries throughout much of the season. Since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs—which caused him to miss multiple games—he hasn’t completed a full week of practice, with various bumps and bruises continuing to limit him. That said, he still has the opportunity to lead the Ravens to an AFC North title and secure a fourth consecutive postseason appearance.
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