Ravens vs. Texans score, live updates: Baltimore heads to Houston with eye on division title this Christmas

On By Littum

The Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans are both headed to the playoffs this season, and while the Texans know they’ll be hosting a first-round matchup, the Ravens could still end up as a wild-card team when January rolls around. That’s part of the intrigue of this Christmas Day matchup that could be a dress rehearsal for a matchup between these two teams at NRG Stadium again next month. They are currently seeded as no. 4 and 5 in the AFC bracket, so if the season ended today, this would be a wild-card weekend matchup.

Lamar Jackson’s passing numbers are better than they’ve ever been, and he’s coming off an extremely rare season of 40 or more touchdown passes with fewer than 10 interceptions. It has only been done four times by two players: Tom Brady (2007) and Aaron Rodgers (2011, 2016, 2020), and three of those seasons were rewarded with an MVP award. CJ Stroud, meanwhile, hasn’t reached the statistical heights of his rookie year, but Joe Mixon’s year — already over 1,000 scrimmage yards despite playing just 12 games — has helped the Texans to a second-place finish in the standings.

Live12 updates

  • The Texans finally come up with a stop after stopping Henry and Mitchell at the line, and they get the ball back on a Ravens punt. It was the first time they have been able to stop the run all day.

    If they can capitalize on that, we’ll have a game here before the break.

  • End of 1: Ravens 10, Texans 0

    That’s all Ravens so far today in Houston. Derrick Henry is already up to 86 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries after the first quarter, and they threaten to score again here early in the second quarter.

  • CJ Stroud just threw three incomplete passes, including a very bad miss to Dalton Schultz, and the Texans strike again. Baltimore takes over again late in the first quarter, and it gets a boost after a penalty on the kick.

  • Justin Tucker FG extends Baltimore’s lead

    There was no doubt about this one. Justin Tucker has had his struggles this season. But he just booted a 52-yard field goal down the middle to extend Baltimore’s lead to 10-0.

  • Sack of Stroud ends Houston drive

    Houston entered Baltimore territory on its first possession. But Kyle Van Noy put a quick end to the drive. The Ravens linebacker sacked CJ Stroud on third-and-4 from the Baltimore 48 for an 11-yard loss to end the Texans’ possession.

    Van Noy’s sack increases his career total to 11.5. The Ravens take possession with a 7-0 lead with 6:12 left in the first quarter.

  • Touchdown, Ravens

    Derrick Henry caps the Ravens’ opening drive with a touchdown and they’ve taken an immediate 7-0 lead.

  • Lamar Jackson gets the Ravens rolling early on their first drive. They are down on the edge of field goal range now.

  • The Texans are fired up and we’re officially underway at NRG Stadium. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens will get us started here soon.

  • Fireworks before the game in Houston

    The Texans and Ravens got into it during pregame warmups over … an errant punt.

  • With the Chiefs-Steelers game now concluded, it’s almost time for the “Beyonce Bowl” at NRG Stadium.