Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry is well on his way to earning a third consecutive rushing title. He also now has to be considered a viable NFL MVP candidate.
Heading into Monday’s game against the red-hot Buffalo Bills, King Henry led all NFL running backs in rush attempts (142), rushing yards (640), total touchdowns (seven), touches (156) and total yards (765). That came on the heels of Henry gaining a combined 3,887 total yards and 35 touchdowns over the previous two seasons. These are absolutely eye-opening numbers.
Even Buffalo’s top-ranked scoring defense couldn’t hold Henry in check Monday evening. With his team down 6-0 early in the second quarter, the league’s best back ran right up the middle and took it 76 yards for a touchdown to give Tennessee a 7-6 lead. It was something to behold.
That type of power-and-speed combination is so rare. While Tennessee’s offensive line opened up a nice hole and blockers down the field did their part, Henry’s ability to turn it on to a second gear is just absolutely insane.
It also helped the Titans get out of a rut with Ryan Tannehill having completed just 2-of-8 passes for 16 yards with an interception to open the game.
At 3-2 on the season including a loss to the lowly New York Jets, Tennessee will need much more of this from Henry if it is going to earn a third consecutive playoff appearance. So far, so good.
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