Henry’s 99-yard TD run sparks Titans
Derrick Henry sped and stiff-armed his way to a recordtying 99-yard touchdown run and the host Titans routed Jacksonville 30-9 on Thursday night to stay in the playoff chase.
And that was just part of an amazing night for Henry.
Henry matched Tony Dorsett’s 99-yarder of Jan. 3, 1983, for Dallas against Minnesota for the longest run in NFL history. Henry ran to his left and went up the sideline, stiff-arming cornerback A.J. Bouye, then rookie linebacker Leon Jacobs twice and finally shoving linebacker Myles Jack to finish off the TD.
The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner, celebrated by striking the Heisman pose not once, but twice. Dorsett didn’t keep the ball from his run, but Henry said he’d definitely keep his.
“He’s a legend,” Henry said of a fellow Heisman winner. “It’s cool to be in that company with Tony Dorsett.”
Henry set a franchise record with 238 yards on 16 carries, topping the previous mark of 228 yards set by Chris Johnson in 2009 against, yes, the Jaguars.
Henry finished with a careerhigh four TDs, tying Lorenzo White and Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell for most rushing TDs in a game in franchise history. Henry also became the first player in the NFL with four rushing TDs in a game since Jonas Gray of the Patriots in Week 11 in 2014.
Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel called Henry’s night “very impressive.” Vrabel noted not every defender can be blocked on every play, leaving the running back to do something.
“He just ran out of guys to stiff-arm,” Vrabel said.
With the rout and second win in a row, the Titans (7-6) stayed in AFC playoff contention with their fourth straight victory over their oldest division rival. They’ve won six of their past seven against Jacksonville.
The Jaguars (4-9) have lost eight of their past nine.
Johnson called Henry’s 99yarder “amazing” and congratulated Henry after passing him for the team record.
Marcus Mariota, wearing black tape on the back of his right hand, threw for 162 yards. The Titans outgained Jacksonville 426 yards to 255, and they also had four sacks.
Jacksonville came into Thursday with the league’s fifth-best scoring defense after shutting out the Colts’ Andrew Luck for the first time in the NFL. Jacksonville has been susceptible against the run, ranked 16th giving up 108.4 yards. Henry nearly matched that on his record-tying run.
“For the rest of his life, I’ll be on his highlights,” Jacksonville defensive end Calais Campbell said about Henry.
The record-tying TD capped a huge swing over two plays.
Tennessee rookie Cameron Batson muffed a punt at the Titans’ 7 before recovering at the 1 and being tackled in the end zone for a safety. The Jaguars took the ensuing free kick and drove downfield where they picked up a 4th-and-1 at the Tennessee 5. Then the Titans stopped the Jaguars on the next four plays, the last with rookie linebacker Rashaan Evans tripping up Leonard Fournette.
On the very next play, Henry started toward the middle before turning left for a TD run. Henry had 129 yards on six carries with two TDs all by halftime to become the Titans’ first 100-yard rusher this season. Before his night ended, he added TD runs of 16 and 54 yards.
Alex Smith update: Washington quarterback Alex Smith has suffered an infection caused by complications from multiple surgeries on his broken leg, ESPN reported.
Sources say there is concern that Smith, 34, might be dealing with a career-ending injury after breaking the tibia and fibula in his right leg in a Week 11 loss to the Texans.
Smith remains in the hospital.