Derrick Henry conspiracy theory emerges as Ravens land almighty blow in high-stakes Steelers showdown

The 272nd – and final – game of the 2025 NFL regular season will see the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens go head-to-head for the AFC North title.

All eyes will be on the return of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson with 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers manning the offense on the other side of the field at Acrisure Stadium.

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But with Jackson having put together arguably one of the worst seasons of his pro football career, which has been plagued by injuries, if the Ravens are to punch their ticket to the 2025 NFL playoffs, they are going to need a big performance from Derrick Henry.

The Sunday Night Football showdown also just so happens to be the All-Pro running back’s 32nd birthday.

King Henry – who is part of a legendary backfield duo in Baltimore with Jackson – has played two NFL games on his birthday in the past, and has balled out on both occasions.

When suiting up for the Tennessee Titans in 2020, he exploded for 182 yards and a touchdown from 34 carries against the New England Patriots in an opening round playoff game.

In the 2024 season, in their divisional matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Henry ran 20 times for 138 yards and two scores.

With January 4 being a particularly good day on the field for Henry, averaging 182.5 rushing yards, and with the season very much on the line amid reports of a rift in the team, football fans have flooded to social media with the theory that the Steelers could very much be in trouble.

There’s also the added fact that Henry is coming off one of the best games of career, in which he went off for 216 yards on 36 carries – and found the end zone four times – in the Ravens’ 41-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

But, according to the fans, it’s not just Henry – whose middle name just so happens to be ‘Lamar’ – who could be a good omen for Baltimore in their must-win matchup on Sunday.

Ravens QB1 Jackson – who keeps his life off the field very private – also has a daughter who was born on January 4.

The two-time MVP revealed this last season after the Ravens clinched the AFC North in Week 18 in their win against the Browns in 2024, posting an Instagram story after the game wishing her a happy birthday.

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“The stars are aligning,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“The King is a wrecking ball waiting to happen. Complete weapon,” another wrote.

Steelers hope to target Ravens’ weakness

Whilst all these ‘coincidences’ have Ravens fans excited, Steelers fans have been quick to remind their Week 18 opponents of their recent shortfall – fumbling the football.

“He gonna fumble twice and rush for 50 yards max and 0 TDs. Steelers defense is healthy again ,” one Pittsburgh fan commented.

“Fumblruski loading at a critical time,” another wrote.

Henry has recorded four fumbles this season, while Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has also struggled to contain the ball with three fumbles as well.

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Jackson has seven fumbles through his 12 outings, so the Steelers defense – which ranks 29th in the league in passing yards per game allowed (245.3 ypg) and 12th in the NFL for rushing yards allowed (111.6 ypg) – will be looking to capitalize on this weakness in the Ravens’ game.

It will be difficult though, with Baltimore having averaged 245 rushing yards against the Steelers defense in their last three outings and hoping to become just the fifth team in NFL history to reach the playoffs after a 1-5 start to the campaign.

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