Oh, Henry! Titans RB ties record in big win over Jags
Derrick Henry sped and stiffarmed his way to a record-tying 99-yard touchdown run and the Tennessee Titans routed the Jacksonville Jaguars 30- 9 on Thursday night to stay in the playoff chase.
And that was just part of an amazing night for Henry.
Henry tied Tony Dorsett’s 99-yarder on Jan. 3, 1983, for Dallas against Minnesota for the longest TD run in NFL history. Henry ran to his left and ran up the sideline, stiff-arming first Jaguars cornerback A. J. Bouye, then rookie linebacker Leon Jacobs twice and finally a shove to linebacker Myles Jack to finish off the TD.
The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner celebrated by striking the Heisman pose not once, but twice.
Henry set a franchise record with 238 yards on just 16 carries, topping the previous mark of 228 yards set by Chris Johnson in 2009 against yes, the Jaguars.
Henry finished with a career-high four TDs, tying Lorenzo White and Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell for most rushing TDs in a single 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.
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 last seven against Jacksonville.
The Jaguars (4- 9) have lost eight of their last nine. MCCARTHY RETURNS TO SPEAK TO PACKERS » Fired shortly af- ter Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals, former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to the team he coached for most of the past 13 seasons.
On Wednesday, he got his chance. Interim coach Joe Philbin allowed McCarthy back into Lambeau Field to speak to the team, and the players bid him farewell with a standing ovation.
“He held it together as much as you can,” third-year defensive tackle Kenny Clark said. “It was emotional. It was emotional for all of us. Mike came in, and we were surprised he was even coming in. Seeing him, gave him a round of applause and thanked him. He was emotional about it, we were all emotional about it.”
Linebacker Clay Matthews spent all 10 NFL seasons with McCarthy.
“I was happy to see him,” Matthews said. “Obviously, first thing’s first, you understand that this is a business and not many people get that opportunity. For him to invest the past 13 years in this team, has given his heart and soul to us, to have that kind of closure, it was great of the organization. I know we really enjoyed it. I’m sure he did from a closure standpoint.”
The Packers enter Sunday’s home game against the Falcons having lost five of the past six games to tumble to 4-7-1. Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals, who were only 2-9 at the time, sealed McCarthy’s fate. SMITH DEALING WITH COMPLICATIONS » Washington has asked for privacy for Alex Smith and his family amid reports the quarterback is dealing with complications from surgery to repair a broken leg.
In a statement, the team said it appreciates concerns about Smith’s injury that occurred Nov. 18 against Houston and that the 34-year- old and his family remain strong. A team spokesman declined to say whether Smith was still in the hospital more than two weeks after surgery to repair a broken right tibia and fibula.
Coach Jay Gruden said Nov. 19 he expected Smith to make a full recovery and be out six to eight months. NFL Network and Washington’s 106.7 FM reported that Smith is still battling infection in his right leg and is being tended to by doctors. BENJAMIN TO SIGN WITH CHIEFS » Kelvin Benjamin’s foray into free agency has been brief.
The former Bills wide receiver is set to sign a one-year deal with the Chiefs, a source told nfl.com. Buffalo had acquired him at last season’s trade deadline from Carolina.
Benjamin was waived by the Bills on Tuesday. The fourthyear wide receiver will look to turn around his career in Kansas City.
He finished his Bills tenure with 39 catches for 571 yards and two touchdowns.