Titans keep grooving without Henry

Your best player gets sidelined for a lengthy period, perhaps the rest of the season, and yet you prosper.

That’s been the strange scenario recently in Music City, where the Tennessee Titans still have their groove despite losing running back Derrick Henry — also the top player in the AFC South — to a broken foot.

“Derrick’s a guy, he’s hard to replace,“center Ben Jones says. “He’s done it multiple years now. We kind of got a rhythm with him, knowing how he hits runs and stuff. So it’s definitely some learning curve, and we’ve got to do as an offensive line. We’ve got to keep grinding and just make this run game come to life.”

Tennessee (7-2), with a 3½-game lead in the division and standing atop the entire conference, hosts New Orleans (5-3) on Sunday. The Titans are 6-0 against 2020 playoff teams, including wins in four straight games. Tennessee has won five straight overall, the longest active streak in the NFL.

The Saints, 4-1 in games played outside New Orleans, are without their starting quarterback, Jameis Winston, also a huge loss, although backup Trevor Siemian has performed admirably as they upset Tampa Bay before falling to Atlanta.

The action began Thursday night with Miami stunning the visiting Baltimore Ravens 22-10. Xavien Howard forced a fumble and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown, and Tua Tagovailoa came off the bench

and capped his night with a 1-yard sneak for a score with 2:19 left for the Dolphins.

The Dolphins (3-7) got three field goals from Jason Sanders and got their second win in five days.

Off this week are Chicago (3-6), Houston (1-8), Cincinnati (5-4) and the New York Giants (3-6).

Carolina (4-5) at Arizona (8-1)

Superman is back in Charlotte, but it’s unlikely Cam Newton will have any effect on this game. He joined the Panthers, where he won the 2015 MVP award, on Thursday after starting quarterback Sam Darnold went on injured reserve, but P.J. Walker will start.

L.A. Rams (7-2) at San Francisco (3-5)

One of the league’s best long-standing rivalries, which the Niners have dominated with four straight victories. But the 49ers have lost their first four home games for the first time since 1982 and third time ever. San Francisco is 1-8 at Levi’s Stadium the past two seasons, and the Rams ride a four-game road winning string into Monday’s game.

Seattle (3-5) at Green Bay (7-2)

This series at Lambeau Field is lopsided, though the availability of each team’s starting quarterback could determine if Seattle can win in Green Bay for the first time since 1999. Russell Wilson is expected to return after missing three games for right middle finger surgery, and Aaron Rodgers is eligible to come off the COVID-19 list and suit up, pending no more complications.

Kansas City (5-4) at Las Vegas (5-3)

The Chiefs have looked nothing like the offensive juggernaut that went to the past two Super Bowls, winning one. They tend to come alive in November, when quarterback Patrick Mahomes is 10-1, and tight end Travis Kelce often dominates the Raiders.

Minnesota (3-5) at L.A. Chargers (5-3)

Los Angeles has the worst run defense in football, which could play into the hands of Vikings RB Dalvin Cook. But the Vikes, who have mastered losing close games, are more of a passing team. Kirk Cousins has been sacked a leaguelow 10 times this season, and Minnesota is dangerous early, having scored on its opening drive in seven straight games (five touchdowns, two field goals).

Philadelphia (3-6) at Denver (5-4)

Is any team more streaky than the Broncos? They won their first three games (against weak competition), then lost four in a row when the opponents became more formidable. Now they have won two straight, including thrashing the NFC East-leading Cowboys on the road.

Tampa Bay (6-2) at Washington (2-6)

A couple of teams coming off byes, but already headed in opposite directions.

Tom Brady is 5-1 against Washington, counting a playoff win in January on the way to his seventh Super Bowl title. He has thrown for 15 TDs in those six starts.

Washington, which has lost three straight coming off a bye, ranks last in pass defense. Uh-oh.

Detroit (0-8) at Pittsburgh (5-3)

Amazing stat: The previous time the Lions won in Pittsburgh was 1955. That 31-28 win came at Forbes Field, 66 years and two stadiums ago for the Steelers. Pittsburgh, which has turned around its season with four consecutive victories, is 12-3-1 against Detroit at home and 9-0-1 in the past 10 visits by the Lions.

Cleveland (5-4) at New England (5-4)

It seems releasing Odell Beckham Jr. was addition by subtraction for Cleveland. While the receiver was on his way out, the Browns played their best game in defeating Cincinnati. They could be plagued in the running game, their strength on offense, with primary running back Nick Chubb on the reserve/COVID-19 list and Kareem Hunt missing his fourth consecutive game.

Buffalo (5-3) at New York Jets (2-6)

Coming off an embarrassing loss at Jacksonville, the Bills should be geared for a memory-erasing performance. New York is ranked last in overall defense, and the line, a supposed strength, has been invisible recently. Quarterback Josh Allen, as much a threat running as he is passing, could have a wideopen field day.

Jacksonville (2-6) at Indianapolis (4-5)

Indianapolis has won 15 of its 20 home games against Jacksonville, which has dropped 11 successive road matches and eight straight division games.