Like his running style, Ravens running back Derrick Henry often gets right to the point with his words and delivers them bluntly.
At least that was the case when responding to the comments of Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack, who said following Baltimore’s win in Los Angeles on Monday night that he doesn’t find it difficult to face the NFL’s leading rusher.
“I don’t care,” Henry said Wednesday. “That [crap] don’t matter. We won.”
In the 30-23 victory, the Ravens, who lead the NFL in rushing, ran for 212 yards on 37 attempts.
Henry did most of the damage, with 140 yards on 24 carries. He was kept out of the end zone in a game for the first time this season, however, after an illegal formation penalty on right tackle Roger Rosengarten wiped out a 5-yard touchdown run to end his streak of consecutive games with at least one touchdown at 12, dating to last season.
Afterward, Mack was asked about defending the 30-year-old Henry, who has 1,325 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.
“I don’t think it’s hard to play against that guy, and hopefully we see this team again,” the outside linebacker said.
Asked to elaborate, Mack continued: “It’s not hard for me to play against that guy. He’s a great player. It’s not hard for me to play against that guy. I love playing against the greats, and this was no different. … When I say hard, I mean in a sense of playing against him. If I’m on the field, I know, if he comes to my side, I got him.”
Mack finished with four tackles, and the 212 rushing yards the Chargers surrendered was a season high.
The two might not have to wait long to see each other again. If the Ravens (8-4), who are a half-game back of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North, win their division, they could end up hosting the Chargers (7-4) in just one of many playoff scenarios.
Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1.