Few running backs have been as dominant as the Tennessee Titans’ Derrick Henry across the past two seasons. Henry provided more proof Sunday, when he surpassed 2,000 rushing yards for the season in the Titans’ 41-38 road victory over the Houston Texans.
On a lengthy drive in the fourth quarter, Henry reached 227 rushing yards — surpassing the milestone. He finished with 250 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries in the win, which gave Tennessee the AFC South title for the first time since 2008.
“I’m glad we were able to finish with a W at the end,” Henry said. “We won as a team and we all do it together. I’m just glad that we were able to accomplish this and win the division and get to the playoffs.”
Henry finished the season as a triple crown rushing winner by leading all NFL running backs in yards (2,027), attempts (378) and rushing touchdowns (17).
Henry’s 250-yard performance surpassed his franchise-record 238 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018. He had more than 200 rushing yards for the third consecutive game against the Texans, making him the only player in NFL history to do so.
Henry is the eighth player in the 2,000-rushing-yards club, joining O.J. Simpson, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, Jamal Lewis, Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson. And the Titans are the only NFL franchise to have two players (Johnson in 2009 was the other) who have rushed for 2,000 yards in a season.
Peterson was the most recent to do it when he picked up 2,097 in 2012.
“He’s definitely showing that he is that next best thing. When you’re Derrick Henry, teams are coming in and they are focused on stopping you. That right there makes it even more impressive,” Peterson said last month.
The 6-foot-3, 247-pound back joined Davis as the only players to have at least 1,900 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns in a season.
Henry also joined Tiki Barber ( New York Giants 2005, 2006) as the only NFL players to finish with 200-yard rushing games in back-to-back season finales.
Now the Titans will host the Baltimore Ravens at Nissan Stadium on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. ET. Baltimore has the NFL’s No. 10 rushing defense, allowing 106 yards per game. The Titans beat the Ravens 30-24 thanks to a 29-yard touchdown run by Henry in overtime in Week 11.
Henry carried the ball 30 times for 195 yards in Tennessee’s 28-12 victory over Baltimore in the divisional round of the playoffs last season. The Titans will need another big-time performance from Henry in their matchup Sunday.