Lamar Jackson compared Derrick Henry to Lightning McQueen after the Baltimore Ravens pair combined to run the Pittsburgh Steelers into submission in Saturday's grudge wild-card game.

The Ravens sealed their spot in the divisional round with a 28-14 success against their AFC North rivals, who were simply unable to stand up to their dominant run game.

Of Baltimore's total of 464 yards, 299 came on the ground, with MVP candidate Jackson posting 81 and Henry adding 186 as well as two rushing touchdowns.

The duo's total of 267 rushing yards was the second-most ever recorded by a quarterback and running back pairing in a playoff game, behind Colin Kaepernick and Frank Gore for the San Francisco 49ers against the Green Bay Packers in 2012. 

The Steelers only had 29 rushing yards as a team, with the highlight for Baltimore being a 13-play, seven-minute touchdown drive where the Ravens exclusively ran the ball.

Henry scored the longest touchdown run of his postseason career in the third quarter (44 yards) and was recorded at a top speed of 20.6 miles per hour, leading Jackson to compare him to the fictional racer made famous by the 2006 Pixar film.

"Did you watch the movie 'Cars'? When Lightning McQueen was just flying flashing past, that's how Derrick looks," Jackson said. 

"He was running past all those guys. It just looked like a movie, bro. I'd rather be watching it than being on the other side of the ball. I know that.

"Derrick is just a workhorse. That guy is just that guy. I can just hand the ball off, and he gets 10 yards, 20 yards, 30 yards and I'm just chilling."

Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry combined for 267 rushing yards in their win over Pittsburgh today.

That's the 2nd-most rush yards by a QB/RB teammate duo in a playoff game, behind Colin Kaepernick and Frank Gore in the 2012 Divisional Playoffs vs. Green Bay (300). pic.twitter.com/R4YWYGKLo8

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) January 12, 2025

The Ravens' 299 ground yards is a new franchise record for a playoff game, almost a year after they were criticised for failing to use the run game in their AFC Championship defeat to the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs. 

"I thought it was fun watching Lamar run, but watching Derrick Henry run for a touchdown, I think that might take the cake," Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley said. 

"Maybe because he's like six-foot-five, running like a gazelle."

The Ravens' only concern came when Jackson took a blow to his back at the end of one run, and the two-time MVP was seen applying a heat pad to the area between drives. 

However, with the Ravens now having a week to prepare for a huge matchup with either the Buffalo Bills or the Houston Texans, Jackson moved to allay any injury fears.

"I'm good," Jackson said. "It really didn't affect me at all, to be honest with you. Just a little nag, but I'm good. Nothing to worry about."