Welcome to the Baltimore Ravens, Derrick Henry.
The two-time rushing champ joined the Ravens this offseason after eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans. He kicked off his Ravens career by scoring the first touchdown of the NFL season.
Henry plowed through the Kansas City Chiefs defense for a five-yard touchdown on the first drive of Thursday’s NFL season opener against Kansas City.
The score capped an opening drive heavy on Henry. The drive took 11 plays and spanned 70 yards. Henry carried the ball on five of those plays, tallying 17 rushing yards. It’s a likely sign of things to come for a Ravens team that projects to use Henry early and often this season as part of one of the league’s most dynamic one-two running punches alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Baltimore scored the touchdown despite an otherwise sloppy opening drive. The Ravens were flagged for three illegal formation penalties en route to the touchdown, but managed to secure four first downs and the touchdown despite the setbacks.
The Ravens’ lead didn’t last long. Kansas City responded with a quick-strike scoring drive of its own capped by a 21-yard touchdown run from rookie speedster Xavier Worthy on the first touch of his NFL career.
After seven-plus months and a 25-minute weather delay, Thursday’s rematch of the AFC championship was off to a scintillating start.