January football in Baltimore isn't for the faint of heart. Honestly, it’s cold, it’s loud, and the wind off the Patapsco River makes every pass feel like a gamble. When the Houston Texans rolled into M&T Bank Stadium on January 20, 2024, for the AFC Divisional Round, the vibe was tense. Most fans were terrified of another early playoff exit.
Lamar Jackson knew it.
The Ravens vs Texans 2024 matchup was supposed to be the "coronation" for C.J. Stroud, the rookie phenom who had just shredded the Browns. Instead, it became a masterclass in halftime adjustments and defensive dominance. If you only looked at the final score—34-10 in favor of Baltimore—you’d think it was a blowout from the start. It wasn't.
The First Half Chaos Nobody Expected
The first 30 minutes were ugly. Brutal, really.
Lamar Jackson was clearly frustrated. The Texans' defense, led by DeMeco Ryans, was blitzing like crazy. They sent extra rushers on a career-high 75% of Lamar’s dropbacks. It worked. By halftime, the score was deadlocked at 10-10. The only reason Houston was even in it was a 67-yard punt return touchdown by Steven Sims.
The Ravens' offense looked stagnant. Lamar had been sacked three times.
In the locker room, things got loud. Lamar Jackson isn't always a "yeller," but witnesses say he was vocal—and not in a polite way. He used some choice language to tell his team they were better than what they were showing. He was tired of the "Lamar can't win in the playoffs" narrative.
Basically, he decided to take over.
How the Ravens vs Texans 2024 Game Flipped
When they came back out for the third quarter, everything changed. Todd Monken, the Ravens' offensive coordinator, started calling quicker plays. No more holding the ball for four seconds. Lamar got the ball out in an average of 2.25 seconds in the second half.
He was electric.
First, a 15-yard touchdown run by Lamar. Then, a beautiful 15-yard strike to Isaiah Likely in the fourth. By the time Lamar dashed for an 8-yard score to make it 31-10, he didn't just stop in the end zone. He kept running. Right through the tunnel and into the locker room area.
It was the ultimate "I’m done here" moment.
Historical Context of the Performance
Lamar finished with a stat line that literally had never been seen before in NFL history:
- 2 passing touchdowns
- 2 rushing touchdowns
- 100+ rushing yards
- A passer rating over 100 (it was 121.8, to be exact)
Nobody had ever done that in a single game—regular season or playoffs. Not Vick. Not Cunningham. Not even prime Cam Newton.
What Happened to C.J. Stroud?
People forget how good Stroud had been leading up to this. But the Ravens' defense is a different beast. Mike Macdonald, the defensive coordinator at the time, didn't even need a sack to ruin Stroud’s day. They just suffocated the lanes.
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The Texans' run game? Non-existent. They finished with 38 yards on the ground. You can't beat a top-tier team in January if you can't run the ball.
Stroud finished 19-of-33 for 175 yards. No touchdowns. No picks. Just... nothing. He was "corralled," as the analysts say. It was a learning moment for the rookie, seeing exactly what a championship-level defense looks like when the stakes are highest.
The Christmas Day Rematch
The Ravens vs Texans 2024 saga didn't actually end in January. Because of the way the NFL scheduling works, these two met again on December 25, 2024.
This one was even worse for Houston.
The Ravens walked into NRG Stadium and handed the Texans a 31-2 loss. Yeah, you read that right. A safety was the only scoring Houston could muster. Lamar Jackson used that game to break the all-time NFL record for rushing yards by a quarterback, surpassing Michael Vick.
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It felt like a statement.
Derrick Henry, who wasn't even on the team during the January playoff game, ran for 147 yards. The combination of Jackson and Henry is basically a cheat code. The Texans' defense, which looked so spirited in the first half of the January game, looked totally gassed by the third quarter of the Christmas rematch.
Why This Rivalry is Different Now
Ravens vs Texans 2024 proved that Houston belongs in the conversation, but Baltimore is currently the gatekeeper.
There’s a clear gap in physical strength. The Ravens play a "bully ball" style that Houston hasn't quite figured out how to counter yet. DeMeco Ryans admitted as much after the playoff loss, noting that Baltimore's front seven was simply living on the Texans' side of the line of scrimmage.
Key Takeaways for Fans
- Halftime is for Leaders: Lamar's "cursing" speech in the playoff game changed the season's trajectory.
- Blitzing is a Double-Edged Sword: Houston's 75% blitz rate worked for 30 minutes, then Lamar figured it out and punished them.
- The "Lamar Playoff" Narrative is Dead: Winning that game in the fashion he did silenced most of the logical critics.
If you're looking to understand why the Ravens are consistently at the top, look at these two games. They don't just win; they wear you down. They make the fourth quarter feel like an eternity for the opposing defense.
Going forward, keep an eye on how the Texans build their offensive line. Until they can protect Stroud and establish a run against a 3-4 hybrid defense like Baltimore's, the result of Ravens vs Texans is likely to stay the same.
Next Steps for Serious Analysts:
- Re-watch the third quarter of the January 20th game to see the shift in "release time" for Lamar Jackson.
- Track the Texans' off-season additions specifically in the interior defensive line to see if they're prepping for the Derrick Henry problem.
- Compare C.J. Stroud's "under pressure" stats from 2023 vs 2024 to see if he's learning to navigate the pocket better against elite AFC North-style pass rushes.