BALTIMORE — In addition to being the current leading rusher in the NFL, Derrick Henry can apparently predict the future.

Henry’s 87-yard touchdown on the first play of the Baltimore Ravens’ 35-10 loss to the previously undefeated Buffalo Bills was even more remarkable considering the four-time Pro Bowl running back believes he called his own shot.

“It was indescribable,” Henry said on the Ravens website after the game. “I did an interview on Friday where I talked about starting the game right away with a big play, and that happens. Sometimes you speak things into life.”

Henry’s powerful running and breakaway speed helped the Ravens even their record at 2-2 and makes their offense even more dangerous. Unlike the previous six seasons, when quarterback Lamar Jackson primarily played Baltimore, the Ravens have a big-time player paired with the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player in Henry.

On Sunday, Henry finished with 199 yards rushing and 10 yards receiving, scoring two touchdowns. It marked his eighth career game with 200 scrimmage yards and multiple touchdowns, which ranks behind only LaDainian Tomlinson (10) in NFL history.

This season, Henry leads the NFL with 480 yards rushing, the most of any player in four games since 2021 – when Henry ran for 510 yards in the first four games.

“He’s one of one, that’s what I’m saying,” Ravens Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard said. “And that’s why he’s just one of the best backs in this league. I’m so happy to have him here and block for him.”

Henry set the tone when he ran through a huge gap on the right side of the line and ran untouched 87 yards to the end zone. According to ESPN Research, it was the longest rushing touchdown by any player on his team’s opening offensive play since 2013, when Terrelle Pryor had a 93-yard touchdown on the Raiders’ opening play against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Henry showed off his speed at age 30, reaching a max speed of 34.29 mph, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That was the fourth-fastest speed for a ball carrier this season and marked Henry’s eighth-fastest speed since 2018.

“If he gets into high school, he’s as good as gone,” Jackson said. “It’s hard to catch him because he’s fast. He’s not just a powerful back. He’s also fast, and he showed that on the offense’s first possession.”

The only disappointment was that Henry was unable to record his sixth career 200-yard rushing game. The Ravens gave the ball to Henry twice on their final drive, but he fell one yard short.

“We’ll get it for him,” Ricard said. “But it’s all good.”

After their first 0-2 start in nine years, the Ravens quickly rebounded, winning back-to-back games and closing to within one game of the Steelers (3-1) for first place in the AFC North. Baltimore also ended the Bills’ streak of 43 games without losing by at least 10 points, which was the longest active streak in the NFL.

However, the Ravens downplayed their dominance over the Bills.

“We didn’t win a Super Bowl today,” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said. “It’s only week 4, and we’re trying to achieve what we need to achieve – (which) we didn’t achieve last year – so we’ve got a long road ahead of us, but I think we’re on the right track. ”

It was the first complete win for the Ravens this season. On offense, Baltimore scored touchdowns on its first three drives. On defense, the Ravens held Bills quarterback Josh Allen to rushing or passing touchdowns, the first time he has been shut out in this way since 2021.

“We didn’t win a Super Bowl today. It’s only Week 4 and we’re trying to accomplish what we need to accomplish – which we didn’t accomplish last year – so we’ve got a long time ahead of us, but I think we’re on the be a good path.”

Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton

“They played more than us, and it was clear right away. They had more urgency than us,” Allen said. “Sometimes you walk into a building and tonight they were a buzzsaw, they kicked our ass. That’s what it comes down to.”

In their previous two games, the Ravens struggled late. Baltimore lost to the Raiders 26-23 in Week 2 after failing to hold a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. Then, in Week 3, the Ravens held on to beat the Dallas Cowboys 28-25 after blowing a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter.

On Sunday night, the Ravens closed the game so convincingly that Allen was pulled with 7:17 remaining.

“Now we know we’re only going to get better,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “We know what’s possible, we know what we’re capable of, but we still have a long way to go and we still have a lot of work to do. And we’re only four games in and we have 13 regular seasons left.” And where the season goes will be determined by what we do in the next thirteen games.”