The Baltimore Ravens dominated the Houston Texans in the second of two NFL games on Christmas Day, winning 31-2 on the road.
MVP candidate Lamar Jackson was sensational, completing 10 of 15 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 87 yards and another score.
Jackson was aided by a dominant rushing attack. Derrick Henry carried the ball 27 times for 147 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens as a team ran 43 times for 251 yards.
C.J. Stroud struggled for the Texans. He completed 17 of 31 passes for only 185 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Stroud was also sacked five times.
Baltimore began the game with an eight-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown. After a Houston punt, the Ravens took a 10-0 lead with a field goal on their next drive.
The Texans’ only score in the first half came on a safety in the second quarter. But they turned the ball over on downs on their next possession, and Baltimore answered with a 99-yard scoring drive to take a 17-2 lead the team into halftime.
Beyoncé performs ‘Cowboy Carter’ hits during Christmas NFL halftime show on Netflix
In the third quarter, Stroud was intercepted on Houston’s first drive, leading to a Ravens touchdown. After a Texans three-and-out, Baltimore added another touchdown on a 10-play drive to go up 31-2.
With the Pittsburgh Steelers losing earlier, the Ravens moved into first place in the AFC North and third place in the conference overall. Their final game of the season is against the Cleveland Browns.
Houston fell to 9-7 with the loss, but the team has already clinched the AFC South. The Texans finish their regular season with a game against the Tennessee Titans.