NFL playoffs: Lamar Jackson, Ravens eliminate Texans

NFL playoffs: Lamar Jackson, Ravens eliminate Texans

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more as the Ravens defeated the Houston Texans 34-10 in an AFC playoff game on Saturday.

Jackson rushed five times for 50 yards, including touchdown runs of 15 and 8 yards, and completed 9-of-11 passes for 100 yards, including a 15-yard TD toss to tight end Isaiah Likely after a 10-10 halftime tie.

Meanwhile, the Houston offense gained only 68 yards in the second half and didn’t find the end zone in the game. The Texans’ touchdown came on a 67-yard punt return by Steven Sims as Houston tied the game with 4:17 left in the first half.

Seven players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Houston-Baltimore game:

· Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) started at defensive end for the Texans. Anderson recorded one tackle for loss and registered one quarterback hit.

· Ravens cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (St. Paul’s Episcopal, Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) started at wide receiver for the Texans. Collins caught five passes for 68 yards.

· Ravens quarterback Malik Cunningham (Park Crossing) was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (Alabama A&M) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Ravens guard Tyrell Doss (Aliceville) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Christian Harris (Alabama) started at linebacker for the Texans. Harris tied for the team lead with seven tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and registered one quarterback hit.

· Texans guard Tytus Howard (Monroe County, Alabama State) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (Hoover, Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive. A calf injury kept Humphrey out of the lineup.

· Texans safety Kareem Jackson (Alabama) dressed for the game but did not play.

· Ravens guard Tashawn Manning (Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Ravens cornerback Christian Matthew (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Texans wide receiver John Metchie III (Alabama) did not record any stats.

· Ravens outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon (Hoover) did not record any stats.

· Michael Pierce (Daphne, Samford) started at nose tackle for the Ravens. Pierce made one tackle.

· Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o (Alabama) made three tackles.

· Texans safety Jimmie Ward (Davidson) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Texans offensive tackle Kilian Zierer (Auburn) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

After winning three games last season, Houston went 10-7 in 2023 to take the AFC South title, then opened the playoffs with a 45-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns last week in their first year under former Alabama linebacker DeMeco Ryans.

Baltimore had a 13-4 regular-season record to earn the AFC’s No. 1 seed and receive bye through last week’s first round.

The Ravens will play the winner of Sunday’s Kansas City Chiefs-Buffalo Bills contest in the AFC Championship Game at 2 p.m. CST Jan. 28 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. CBS will televise the game.

Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Michael Pierce pressures Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud during an NFL playoff game on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.(AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.