The Ravens got everything they wanted for Christmas.

• A convincing win over the Houston Texans

• Sole possession of first place in the AFC North

• Lamar Jackson set the all-time NFL rushing record for quarterbacks

• The defense pitched a shutout, with the Texans' only two points coming on a safety

Those were among the presents the Ravens (11-5) brought home after a 31-2 victory that put them in control of their fate in the division race.

Here are my five thoughts on a win that made it a happy holiday for Baltimore:

The Ravens are one win from repeating as AFC North champs.

Baltimore's victory, coupled with the Pittsburgh Steelers' loss earlier in the day, gave Baltimore a one-game lead in the AFC North with one game remaining.

The Ravens will repeat as division champions if they defeat the Cleveland Browns in next week's regular-season finale or the Steelers lose to the Bengals in Week 18.

Being one win from a division championship is quite an accomplishment for the Ravens, who started 0-2 and had to spend much of this season chasing down the Steelers (10-5). However, the Ravens have won three straight and appear to be peaking, while Pittsburgh has lost three in a row, including their pivotal Week 16 loss in Baltimore.

The NFL season is a marathon, and the Ravens look like a team ready to make a strong finishing kick. They are in good health, they're playing strong defense, and their offense has been too hot to handle in their three games since returning from the bye.

Baltimore dominated a Houston (9-7) team that has clinched the AFC South. There was so much talk about how the Ravens would handle playing three games in 11 days, and they responded by winning them all. They look like a team peaking at an opportune time heading into the playoffs, and if they beat Cleveland in Week 18, they'll be starting the playoffs at home.

"[I'm] proud of our guys," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "These guys took this three games in 11 days and smashed it, obliterated it, tore it up and made into a bunch of smithereens laying around everywhere."

If there's an athlete capable of stealing the show from Beyoncé, it's Jackson.

Beyoncé took center stage at halftime and had the stadium rocking, but Jackson was the star of the game. He broke Michael Vick's all-time rushing record for quarterbacks and has broken the ankles of many defenders doing it.

Jackson's signature run in this game was a 48-yard touchdown scamper on which he reached the end zone untouched.

Jackson was told that was the fastest speed of his career after the game, but he disagreed.

"I was jogging," Jackson said, drawing laughter.

Jackson is having his best season hands down, even better than either of his two MVP seasons. Since returning from the Ravens' bye three games ago, Jackson looks more determined to hurt opponents with his running, making his dual threat talent even more difficult to stop.

Jackson's ability to improvise in or outside the pocket can make a defense look helpless. In this game, he danced in the backfield until he found Isaiah Likely for a 9-yard touchdown pass. Jackson had Texans' pass rusher Danielle Hunter lost in a futile attempt to sack him.

Jackson used his athleticism to orchestrate a 67-yard catch and run to Mark Andrews. When Jackson buys time, it often leads to a play that's right on time for the Ravens.

Jackson said he did not take a peek at Beyonce's halftime performance.

"I was here in the locker room, preparing for the second half," Jackson said.

But if Jackson stays this hot, the Ravens may be performing in February.

Baltimore's defense is playing lights out.

It's rare to see a defense go from the basement to the penthouse in the same season. But that's what it feels like with the Ravens.

After having major issues giving up big plays early in the year, the Ravens entered this game giving up the fewest net yards in the NFL (278.2 per game) since Week 11. Since Ar'Darius Washington joined the starting lineup, he and All-Pro Kyle Hamilton have been among the league's best safety tandems.

The Texans didn't score a touchdown in this game, and when they came close on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line in the first half, the Ravens slammed the door in their face when Washington and Tre'Davious White gang tackled Joe Mixon to keep him out of the end zone.

When that play ended, Washington took a leaping hit from Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr, who stood tall in the face of criticism earlier when the defense was struggling. The Ravens have 11 playing as one on defense, and the Texans simply had no answers.

It's good to ride Derrick Henry in December and beyond.

Henry (24 carries, 147 yards) had his second straight 100-yard game and had plenty more in the tank of what the Ravens needed. Henry has been dynamite in December throughout his career and this season is no exception.

He set the tone by rushing for 94 yards in the first half, and the Texans looked physically defeated. There isn't a defense that looks forward to dealing with Henry on short rest or late in the season, and he's a weapon the Ravens have never had entering the postseason.

Henry made a mistake trying to bounce outside near Baltimore's end zone, which led to the Texans' safety in the second quarter. But signing Henry this offseason was hardly a mistake. His addition is a masterstroke that makes this year's team more built for a playoff run.

Extra Points

• Henry's touchdown on the opening drive set the franchise single-season touchdown record with 16, breaking a tie with Ray Rice and Mark Ingram II.

• Jackson has a 5-0 career record against the Texans. If the Ravens don't win the division, they would likely meet Houston again in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

• Steven Sims took over as the punt returner in his first game with the Ravens since being claimed off waivers on Monday.

• Keaton Mitchell carried the ball 11 times (20 yards) after not playing the previous three games and showed some of his familiar speed when he took a screen pass for a 28-yard gain.

• Kyle Van Noy had a sack to raise his career-high to 11.5, while Odafe Oweh's sack gave him nine for the season, one short of reaching double digits for the first time.