Derrick Henry's virtuoso performance helps Ravens stay alive with 41-24 win over Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — With their backs against the wall, the Baltimore Ravens made sure they wouldn't underutilize Derrick Henry again.

The five-time Pro Bowl running back responded by delivering one of the greatest performances of his brilliant career to keep the Ravens' playoff hopes alive.

Henry rushed for a season-high 216 yards — the most ever by a visiting player at Lambeau Field — and matched a career high with four touchdown runs in the Ravens' 41-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night.

“It's one of the greatest performances I've ever seen,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

The Ravens (8-8) now must hope the Pittsburgh Steelers lose at Cleveland on Sunday. A Steelers victory in Cleveland would end Baltimore’s playoff hopes. If the Browns win that game, the Ravens could win the AFC North by beating the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Jan. 4.

“I'll be watching and praying, for sure,” Henry said. “I'm going to pray as soon as I get on the plane, when I get home, in the morning when I wake up. Hopefully we get blessed with the opportunity to play for something on Week 18.”

Green Bay (9-6-1) lost its third straight, enabling the Chicago Bears to clinch the NFC North title. The Packers already clinched a playoff berth on Thursday when the Detroit Lions lost 23-10 at Minnesota.

This was the second straight week in which the Packers lost despite not punting the entire game. Only six other teams have ever gone back-to-back games without punting, and those six teams went a combined 12-0 in those games.

“That was a humbling night,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “Give Baltimore a ton of credit. They came in here and were in complete control the whole game."

Henry had three touchdown runs in the first half and scored again on a 25-yard run with 1:56 left in the game. His seventh career 200-yard rushing performance moved him ahead of Adrian Peterson and O.J. Simpson for the most in NFL history.

He increased his career rushing total to 12,892 yards to overtake Tony Dorsett for 10th place on the all-time list. Henry now has 122 career touchdown runs to leapfrog Peterson and move into fourth place overall.

Henry's 36 carries represented a career high. That came a week after Henry didn’t touch the ball in Baltimore’s final two series as the Ravens blew an 11-point, fourth quarter lead in a 28-24 loss to New England that put their playoff hopes on life support.

“Whatever carries it was, it was going to be,” Henry said. “I just wanted to go out there and make something happen.”

Henry became the first player to have at least 200 yards rushing and four touchdown runs in a game since San Francisco's Raheem Mostert did it against the Packers in an NFC championship game on Jan. 19, 2020.

Both teams were missing their starting quarterbacks as Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson deals with a back injury while Green Bay’s Jordan Love is in concussion protocol. The two replacement starters — Baltimore’s Tyler Huntley and Green Bay’s Malik Willis — were both effective in a game that featured only one punt.

Willis went 18 of 21 for a career-high 288 yards and one touchdown, and he also rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Huntley was 16 of 20 for 107 yards with one touchdown.

The difference in the game was Green Bay’s inability to slow down Henry, who helped the Ravens outrush the Packers 307-79.

Henry’s dominance enabled the Ravens to score on their first five possessions and take a 27-14 halftime lead over Green Bay, which hadn’t allowed more than 24 points in 14 straight home games.

“That was very embarrassing, and that’s just not us at all,” Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper said.

Henry totaled 15 carries in Baltimore’s first two series and capped each of them with touchdown runs, from 3 yards and 1 yard away. He was the first player to have at least 15 carries in his team’s first two offensive series since Denver’s Olandis Gary against Green Bay in 1999.

He added another 3-yard touchdown with 10 seconds left in the second quarter.

“He’s one of one,” Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said. "To be able to have a guy like that that runs that hard and plays the way that he does, it’s a joy to be able to block for him.”

Green Bay got back into the game by outscoring Baltimore 10-0 in the third quarter.

After Brandon McManus kicked a 24-yard field goal, the Packers forced the first punt of the night. Willis then ran around right end for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 27-24 with 2:02 left in the third.

But the Ravens responded .

Henry ran for a 9-yard gain on third-and-5 from Baltimore’s 20. He closed the third quarter with a 30-yard burst up the right sideline. Those two plays set up Huntley’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers, which came on a third-and-8 play with 10:10 left.

“In those critical moments when we needed a stop, we didn't get it done,” LaFleur said.

Willis drove the Packers into Baltimore territory before hurting his shoulder and heading to the locker room. Clayton Tune took over, and his only pass was intercepted by Marlon Humphrey.

Henry added the knockout punch a few minutes later.

It was a painful night in every respect for the Packers.

Green Bay safety Zayne Anderson (ankle), defensive lineman Jordon Riley (Achilles) and cornerback Kamal Hadden (ankle) were carted into the locker room. Cornerback Nate Hobbs suffered a knee injury and receiver Dontayvion Wicks was evaluated for a concussion.

Right tackle Zach Tom (back/knee) and receiver Savion Williams (foot) joined Love in sitting out Saturday’s game.

Ravens: At Pittsburgh on Jan. 4.

Packers: At Minnesota on Jan. 4.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) scores a touchdown past Green Bay Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine (24) during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Green Bay Packers defensive end Kingsley Enagbare (55) celebrates after making a stop against Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs the ball past Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (56) during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs the ball against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) scores a touchdown past Green Bay Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine (24) during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Voters went to the polls Sunday for the initial phase of Myanmar ’s first general election in five years, held under the supervision of its military government while a civil war rages throughout much of the country.

Final results will not be known until after two more rounds of voting are completed later in January. It is widely expected that Min Aung Hlaing, the general who has ruled the country with an iron hand since an army takeover in 2021, will then assume the presidency.

The military government has presented the vote as a return to electoral democracy, but its bid for legitimacy is marred by bans on formerly popular opposition parties and reports that soldiers have used threats to force voters to participate.

While more than 4,800 candidates from 57 parties are competing for seats in national and regional legislatures, only six are competing nationwide with the possibility to gain political clout in Parliament. The well-organized and funded Union Solidarity and Development Party, with its support from the military, is by far the strongest contender.

Voting is taking place in three phases, with Sunday’s first round being held in 102 of Myanmar’s 330 townships. The second phase will take place Jan. 11, and the third on Jan. 25. Final results are expected to be announced by February.

Critics charge that the election is designed to add a facade of legitimacy to military rule that began when the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. It blocked her National League for Democracy party from serving a second term despite winning a landslide victory in the 2020 election.

They argue that the results will lack legitimacy due to the exclusion of major parties and limits on freedom of speech and an atmosphere of repression.

The expected victory of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party makes the nominal transition to civilian rule a chimera, say opponents of military rule and independent analysts.

“An election organized by a junta that continues to bomb civilians, jail political leaders, and criminalize all forms of dissent is not an election — it is a theater of the absurd performed at gunpoint,” Tom Andrews, the U.N.-appointed human rights expert for Myanmar, posted on X.

However, holding the election may provide an excuse for neighbors like China, India and Thailand to continue their support, claiming the election promotes stability. Western nations have maintained sanctions against Myanmar’s ruling generals due to their anti-democratic actions and the brutal war against their opponents.

Voters on Saturday expressed mixed feelings.

Khin Marlar, 51, who voted at a polling station in Yangon’s Kyauktada township, said she felt she needed to vote because she hoped that peace would follow afterward. She explained that she had fled her village in the town of Thaungta in the central Mandalay region due to the fighting.

“I am voting with the feeling that I will go back to my village when it is peaceful,” she told The Associated Press.

A resident of southern Mon state, who asked to be identified only by her first name, Khin, for fear of arrest by the military, told The Associated Press she felt compelled to go to a polling station because of pressure from local authorities.

“I have to go and vote even though I don’t want to, because soldiers showed up with guns to our village to pressure us yesterday,” Khin said. There were reports ahead of the voting from independent media and rights groups that officials and the military used such threats to compel people to vote.

Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s 80-year-old former leader, and her party are not participating in the polls. She is serving a 27-year prison term on charges widely viewed as spurious and politically motivated. Her party, the National League for Democracy, was dissolved in 2023 after refusing to register under new military rules.

Other parties also refused to register or declined to run under conditions they deem unfair, and opposition groups have called for a voter boycott.

Amael Vier, an analyst for the Asian Network for Free Elections, noted a lack of genuine choice, pointing out that 73% of voters in 2020 cast ballots for parties that no longer exist.

Mobilizing opposition is difficult under the military’s repression. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 22,000 people are currently detained for political offenses, and over 7,600 civilians have been killed by security forces since they seized power in 2021.

Armed resistance arose after the army used lethal force to crush non-violent protests against its 2021 takeover. The ensuing civil war has left more than 3.6 million people displaced, according to the U.N.

A new Election Protection Law imposes harsh penalties and restrictions for virtually all public criticism of the polls.

In these circumstances, both the military and its opponents believe power is likely to remain with Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who led the 2021 seizure of power.

Associated Press writer Peck reported from Bangkok.

Voters run to cast their ballots at a polling station in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

A man looks for his name on voter lists displayed outside a polling station, with Sule Pagoda in background, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)

A voter casts a ballot at a polling station in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Voters line up to cast their ballots at a polling station in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

A voter shows off her finger marked with ink indicating she voted as she leaves a polling station, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)

A voter casts a ballot at a polling station, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)

A voter casts a ballot at a polling station, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)

Election volunteers prepare to open a polling station, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)

Voters wait for a polling station to open in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Voters wait for a polling station to open in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Voters wait for a polling station to open in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Voters wait for a polling station to open in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Voters wait for a polling station to open in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)