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Derrick Henry 'still not over' playoff loss to Bengals
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) leaves the field after losing to the Bengals during the AFC divisional playoff game. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Titans' Derrick Henry 'still not over' playoff loss to Bengals

Tennessee Titans All-Pro running back Derrick Henry was a legitimate Most Valuable Player candidate who was leading the NFL with 937 yards and 10 touchdowns on 219 carries when he went down with a foot injury on Halloween that ultimately required him to undergo surgery, which cost him the remainder of the regular season. 

Even without King Henry, the Titans earned the AFC's top playoff seed, and the bruising 28-year-old returned to the lineup for the home postseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals that Tennessee lost 19-16. 

The rest, as they say, is history, as the Bengals went on to secure a berth in Super Bowl LVI and an upcoming clash with the Los Angeles Rams. Henry spoke with Jim Wyatt of the Titans' website from Los Angeles on Thursday about being in this year's home of the Super Bowl while not taking part in the game. 

"When I see anything about football, whether I am watching TV or see something on my phone about football, it brings that sick feeling back," Henry explained. "While I'm here, you just have to deal with it the best you can. It still hurts.

"I am still not over the fact that we lost, and we're not here. It will replay in my head until we get back to football, which is going to be a while. But yeah, it still replays in my head every single day. I wanted (to win the Super Bowl) bad, and I know all of my teammates wanted it bad. Everybody was shocked when we lost. So that will be in my head until I am able to strap up again and play in a game."

Henry continued that he won't be attending the Super Bowl once he finishes his promotional appearances this week. 

"I haven't been to a Super Bowl since I've been in the league," Henry said. "Hopefully we can get there and win it next year. That's what we're working for, to win a championship."

The Titans announced Tuesday that head coach Mike Vrabel and general manager Jon Robinson both signed extensions to remain with the organization "for years to come." 

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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