Ravens Mark Andrews makes feelings known on Derrick Henry amid Saquon Barkley's MVP talks
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews delivered praise for teammate Derrick Henry. His words had extra weight as Henry broke franchise records while Saquon Barkley chased NFL history in a remarkable weekend for NFL running backs.
Andrews watched Henry dismantle the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense in a crucial 34-17 AFC North victory on Saturday. The win created a tie atop the division with two games remaining. Meanwhile, Barkley sparked the Philadelphia Eagles' offense after Jalen Hurts left with a concussion.
During Monday's episode of "The Pat McAfee Show," Andrews discussed Henry's impact.
"Derrick's been one of the most incredible teammates," Andrews said. "And you immediately when he gets into to be a Raven, it's, you see how much he really puts into himself and in his body, and the daily effort to just be the best that he can. It's non stop, It's every day. ... He's an amazing fit. Yeah, he's one of the best of all time, if not the best."
Henry's 162-yard explosion against Pittsburgh's fourth-ranked run defense proved Andrews right. ESPN Stats & Info confirmed it as the most rushing yards by a Raven against the Steelers. His 6.8 yards per carry and 27 receiving yards helped Baltimore prevent Pittsburgh from clinching the division.
Derrick Henry vs Saquon Barkley: MVP race heats
On Sunday, Barkley matched NFL legends with his explosive 68-yard touchdown sprint against Washington. He tied Jim Brown's (1963) and Adrian Peterson's (2012) record of four 60+ yard TD runs in a single season. Both backs claimed MVP honors in those historic campaigns.
Barkley's first quarter against Washington left jaws dropped: 109 rushing yards and two TDs on just seven carries. With Kenny Pickett at quarterback, he powered Philadelphia's offense. He entered the game with 1,688 rushing yards and 13 TDs, needing 312 yards to join the elite 2,000-yard club.
The performances highlighted stark contrasts in running styles. Derrick Henry's bruising 24-carry effort demolished a Steelers defense that held him to 65 yards in Week 11. His consistency helped Baltimore bounce back from a quiet previous week.
Barkley's explosive runs put him on pace to become just the ninth player in NFL history to break 2,000 rushing yards. With two games left against Dallas and New York, he joins Buffalo's Josh Allen and Baltimore's Lamar Jackson in MVP discussions.