Derrick Henry isn't interested in making excuses for the Baltimore Ravens' struggling running game. After another disappointing offensive performance ended in a 35-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, local media made sure to find him for a conversation. The veteran running back, as expected, pointed the finger at himself. He acknowledged that Baltimore's ground attack has become a significant problem, but he's only worried about what he can do to help fix it.
Henry finished with just 45 yards on 17 carries against Cincinnati. He struggled to find space as the Ravens' offense lost its early rhythm. Baltimore held a 13-0 halftime lead but couldn't sustain its production after the break, leaving Henry frustrated with his own performance and the unit's inability to make an impact when it mattered most.
When asked what the Bengals did differently to slow the run game in the second half, Henry refused to focus on the opposing defense.
"I don't think it was more so what they were doing. Me, I [have] got to be better. It's not good enough. [It was] terrible. I'm looking at myself. I think every man can look in the mirror, but as far as myself, I can speak on me. It's not good enough at all. We just [have] got to figure it out. Everybody evaluates themselves; coaches are going to evaluate and, we can go from there. It's just not good enough at all for us to be able to win games and be able to string drives together [and] have an impact on the game as far as the running game. It just hasn't been good enough."
Derrick Henry says Ravens' ground game lacks explosive plays
Henry's self-criticism reflects a larger problem for an offense that has struggled to maintain production over the past two weeks. Baltimore moved the ball effectively early, but the offense couldn't build on it, and the running game offered little help once Cincinnati took control.
Henry said the team needs to solve the riddle together. He wants the Ravens offense to regain its momentum and start producing the kind of plays needed to sustain drives.
"We just [aren't] making the plays. We are stagnant, not effective. There are no explosives. I mean, [head coach Jesse Minter] said it. It has not been good."
The lack of explosive runs has made it more difficult for Baltimore to stay ahead of the chains and maintain possession. With Lamar Jackson sidelined, the Ravens need their ground game to provide a reliable foundation, but Henry's production against Cincinnati did little to ease that concern.
As stated, the problem has now persisted across consecutive games, and head coach Jesse Minter acknowledged after Sunday's loss that he is concerned about the running game. Henry agreed that the offense must respond, emphasizing that players need to evaluate themselves honestly rather than search for excuses.
"I mean, we are just not executing. Like I said, we just need to refocus, lock back in, evaluate, and come back to work. I mean, that's all you can do. It's over now."
Baltimore has little time to dwell on the loss, with the Buffalo Bills next on the schedule. Henry remains confident in the group, but the Ravens need more than optimism to get their season back on track. Until the running game becomes effective enough to sustain drives and create explosive plays, the offense will continue to face difficult questions. Hopefully, the team can answer those questions just as quickly.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Derrick Henry calls his play ‘terrible’ after Ravens’ loss to Bengals