Titans’ Derrick Henry looking to continue primetime success in Week 9

Titans RB Derrick Henry typically shines on the national stage.

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry is having another strong season in 2023.

The Alabama product is not only in the top five in rushing yards after eight weeks (526 yards), but he also has the second-highest overall grade at his position (86.3), per Pro Football Focus.

The former Offensive Player of the Year also ranks in the top eight when it comes to his rushing grade (81.7, eighth best) and receiving grade (78.9, second highest).

This week, King Henry has the opportunity to remind everyone just how great he is when he gets the chance to play in front of the entire country on “Thursday Night Football”.

Entering Thursday night’s showdown with the Steelers, the Titans running back has appeared in 20 total primetime games over his legendary career (including playoffs).

In those contests, Henry has totaled 1,913 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on 382 attempts (5.0 yards per carry). Since 2000, Henry’s 95.7 rushing yards per primetime game is tops in the NFL among players who appeared in at least 10 primetime games over that span.

In fact, The King’s average is more than seven yards in front of the next-closest ball carrier, Hall of Famer Edgerrin James (88.5).

Aside from his past primetime success, Henry happens to be enjoying the best season of his career when it comes to his production on first downs.

After seven games, he is averaging a career-best 5.42 yards per carry in those situations. In total, a whopping 68 percent of his yardage has come after a fresh set of downs (358).

Henry is also on the verge of eclipsing 9,000 career rushing yards, sitting just 139 yards shy of that mark.

Should he reach that threshold on Thursday night, he will tie Earl Campbell for the most 100-yard rushing games in franchise history with 40 (including playoffs).

Adding to that, he can pass Chris Johnson (46) for the second-most games  in franchise history with at least 100 yards from scrimmage.

To do so, Henry will have to take advantage of a Steelers defensive unit that is entering the day with the sixth-worst run defense in the NFL (137.1).

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