It is exceedingly rare for a running back to anything well on the ground against the Colts’ defense. Coming into Indy’s Week 12 matchup with the Titans, the Colts had not allowed a back other than Derrick Henry to gain more than 100 yards in a game since last season, and they had allowed just 3.47 running back yards per attempt, fourth-best in the league. And when the Colts beat the Titans 34-17 in Week 10, that defense allowed Derrick Henry just 103 yards and no touchdowns on 19 carries.
But in this rematch, Henry has absolutely gone off, gaining 140 yards and scoring three rushing touchdowns in the first half alone, as the Titans put up 35 first-half points in a 35-14 beatdown.
This 12-yard pitch from Ryan Tannehill to Henry with 9:12 left in the first quarter was called a run…
The King can catch ๐๐ฝ
๐บ: Watch #TENvsIND on CBS pic.twitter.com/yVbKgOs7Uz
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) November 29, 2020
…and this one-yard touchdown run was far more straightforward.
El Tractorcito on the goal line ๐
๐บ: Watch #TENvsIND on CBS pic.twitter.com/ZZESUT6bhK
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) November 29, 2020
“El Tractorcito,” indeed.
Then, there was this 11-yard touchdown, made all the more impressive by some impressive red-zone blocking.
The boys are BLOCKING! ๐ช๐ฝ
๐บ: Watch #TENvsIND on CBS pic.twitter.com/wdHkK93SM0
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) November 29, 2020
Henry also went over 5,000 yards in his career on this 31-yard jaunt.
That's 5,000 career rushing yards for @KingHenry_2… And he ain't done yet. ๐
๐บ: Watch #TENvsIND on CBS pic.twitter.com/eoCeX9DfUj
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) November 29, 2020
Henry became the 49th player in NFL history to amass 5,000 rushing yards in his first five seasons, and at this rate, he might hit 6,000 before the season is over. Only 22 players have ever done that.