Here’s the 547-pound elephant in film rooms of Ravens opponents

It’s simple math, really. One plus one equals 547. The issue of stopping the Ravens (4-2) when they have a lead in the fourth quarter is a 547-pound problem. Lead blocker Patrick Ricard is 6-foot-3, 300 pounds. Tailback Derrick Henry is 6-2, 247. According to NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger, it’s simply a lethal combination late in games.

“Does anyone really wanna tackle the King late in the 4th Q when they line up in I-Formation with @PRic508 leading the way?” Baldinger tweeted Sunday night, with film breakdown.

In Sunday’s historic 30-23 win over Washington (4-2), Henry averaged 7.0 yards per carry (eight attempts, 56 yards) over the Ravens’ final two drives. His 27-yard burst just before the two-minute warning was the bite of that elephant the Commanders couldn’t digest – even with their fancy Beltway buses.

Henry finished with 24 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first player since Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005 to rush for a touchdown in each of his team’s first six games of a season. And with his 20th career century-mark game paired with multiple TDs, he moved up another list with three Hall of Famers, joining Tomlinson (25), Jim Brown (25) and all-time rushing leader Emmitt Smith (21).

But as Halloween approaches, what scares opponents most might be the reappearance of Mark Andrews, who picked Sunday to have his best 2024 game. The All-Pro tight end caught three passes for his most yards (66) and first touchdown since Henry signed with the Ravens this offseason. Lamar Jackson’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Andrews just before halftime was an important turning point on Sunday, breaking a 10-10 tie. Andrews also caught a big pass on a third-quarter drive to set up a Henry touchdown run as Baltimore scored on four straight drives to take a 27-13 lead.

And if Henry, Jackson and Andrews weren’t enough, the Ravens also decided to showcase wide receiver Zay Flowers, who caught a pass every time Jackson targeted him — nine for 132 yards – all in the first half.

The Ravens are a Buccaneers problem now. Tampa Bay (4-2) comes to Baltimore on Sunday.