Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey knew he was getting a power back, when he took Derrick Henry in the second round (45th overall pick) of this year’s NFL Draft. He’s carried the ball in spurts, but Sunday’s match-up against Kansas City opened a opportunity for him to get his first milestone.
The former Alabama standout and 2015 Heisman Trophy winner recorded a multi-touchdown game, including a one-yard burst to the end zone to cap off a 12-play drive in the fourth quarter.
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Henry totaled 58 yards on nine carries, while both his scores came on drives covering 80-plus yards.
He averaged 6.4 yards per attempt in helping the Titans defeat the Chiefs 19-17 on the road. Kansas City was 6-2 at Arrowhead Stadium, prior to Sunday’s letdown. With Henry, Tennessee ranks third in the league in rushing offense (144.5 ypg), eighth in total offense (372.3 ypg) and ninth in scoring offense (24.7 ppg).
The Titans now pull to a tie with Houston for first in the AFC South at 8-6. Should it defeat the Texans on Jan. 1 and Houston drops another game, Tennessee would clinch a playoff berth as the division champion.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.