Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken had an exponential amount of plays for Derrick Henry in the week 17 win over the Green Bay Packers.

Perhaps now it’ll all add up for Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken after the explosive performance by running back Derrick Henry in week 17. Thirty-six carries were a career high for Henry in the 41-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers, where the Ravens finally won the time of possession by a decisive margin.

Monken doesn’t need brilliance or balance to surge the Ravens ahead. Instead, all he needed to do all season long was relinquish his philosophical approach and defer to the innate dominance of his star running back, Henry. No rusher in the NFL has as many 20+ yard runs this season as Henry, and only Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has scored more touchdowns. Yet still, of the Ravens’ 16 total games played this season, Henry has had under 20 carries in 10 of those games. 

Somehow, still, fans have sidestepped Monken’s apparent delusions and pointed fingers at defensive coordinator Zach Orr for the team’s woes. Just think, if the Ravens can score 41 points while rushing for 307 yards on 53 team rushing attempts in a single game, imagine what they would do if Monken stuck with the run when quarterback Lamar Jackson is in the lineup? In crucial losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals in weeks 13 & 14, Jackson combined for 67 passing attempts and more than four turnovers in those games.

Everyone knows that Henry is the answer to all of the Ravens’ offensive problems, and if Monken diverts away from Henry in the season finale, the franchise needs to subtract Monken from the equation. If not, Jackson may walk away from the franchise.