Derrick Henry is the best running back in the National Football League right now.
It is virtually impossible for some teams to go into Gillete Stadium in the postseason and defeat Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, but Henry and the Tennessee Titans may have just ended a major dynasty. The former Alabama running back and 2015 Heisman Trophy winner is about silencing doubters, and he used this season to hush his biggest critics.
Henry set a franchise record on Saturday, as he had 182 yards rushing on 34 carries with one touchdown in the Titans’ 20-13 win over New England on Wild Card weekend.
Despite facing another former Tide star in Dont’a Hightower, the native Floridian pounded the Patriots defense.
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After securing the NFL’s rushing title to end the regular season, Henry has propelled Tennessee into the second round of the AFC playoffs.
He has seven 100-yard rushing performances and stands as the league’s top back for carries (337), yards (1,722) and touchdowns (17).
PUNISH HIM ?@KingHenry_2 | #TENvsNE pic.twitter.com/Aih0v7N8fH
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 5, 2020
Derrick Henry already over 100 yards rushing + this TD! ? @KingHenry_2 | #TENvsNE pic.twitter.com/7duIMaE9ey
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 5, 2020
Upon the conclusion of the game, he told Tracy Wolfson of CBS that the Titans ‘wanted this game.’
As a second-round selection of the 2016 NFL Draft, Henry assisted Mike Vrabel in knocking his former head coach.
Vrabel won three Super Bowls with Belichick and the Patriots as a linebacker and now, he looks to make a huge run in the postseason with Henry.
“We were just locked in. We wanted it.”
Derrick Henry wasn’t surprised at all about the @Titans win over the Patriots. pic.twitter.com/b7OOrI90Jp
— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) January 5, 2020
He was told that his game would not transition to the NFL; however, Henry is dominating the league and has the Titans moving on to the divisional round of the playoffs.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
