Tag: 2017 season

Sorry, Baltimore: Steelers know exactly how to stop Derrick Henry

Pittsburgh has consistently contained Derrick Henry, with wins over him in 2017, 2020, and 2023—a testament to their resilience.

King Henry may rule in Baltimore, but he has bowed several times to the impressive display of determination and resilience that the Steel City represents. The Pittsburgh Steelers have faced a Derrick Henry-led offense three times during his career—in 2017, 2020, and 2023—and emerged victorious each time.

In 2017, the Pittsburgh defense limited Henry to 32 rushing yards on 7 attempts. In 2020—a season many consider one of the greatest by a running back, with Henry averaging 5.4 yards per carry on 378 attempts, rushing for 2,027 yards, and scoring 17 rushing touchdowns—the Steelers once again tamed the king in their Week 7 matchup with the Titans, holding him to just 75 yards on 20 attempts. When the teams met again in 2023, Pittsburgh held Henry to the same 75 rushing yards.

The Baltimore-based king is one of the greatest running backs of his era, but his lack of production speaks volumes about HC Mike Tomlin’s ability to scheme effectively and prevent him from taking over the game. While Henry is an elite player in the NFL, make no mistake: just like the Baltimore Ravens over the past few seasons, Pittsburgh will have his number once again in Week 11.

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Throwback Thursday: Bears S Eddie Jackson’s coming out party

On this day in Bears history, safety Eddie Jackson scores two touchdowns to lead the Bears past the Panthers.

Every Thursday throughout the 2020 regular season, Bears Wire will take a look back at some of the most memorable moments in Bears history that occurred on or near that given day.

October 22, 2017: Eddie Jackson scores two touchdowns to lead the Bears past the Panthers

Remember when Chicago Bears All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson was just a mid-round rookie who had much to prove following a broken leg suffered in college? It feels like a lifetime ago that he was an unknown commodity, but that changed on this day three years ago when the Bears took on the Carolina Panthers on a rainy, October afternoon.

Like most games against Carolina, which always seem to take place in the month of October for some reason, this one was painful to watch at times. The Bears generated very little offense, totaling just 153 total yards, 70 of which came on one play as quarterback Mitchell Trubisky found rookie running back Tarik Cohen for a 70-yard gain. Trubisky only threw the ball seven times but he didn’t need to light it up that day thanks to Jackson and the defense.

Jackson shined on this day, scooping up a fumbled pitch from Panthers quarterback Cam Newton to wide receiver Curtis Samuel, returning the ball for the game’s first score. Later in the half, Newton’s pass to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin was tipped and intercepted by Jackson, who once again ran to the endzone to put the Bears up 14-0. Jackson became the first player in NFL history to have multiple defensive touchdowns of 75 yards or more. The former Alabama Crimson Tide star has himself a day, but the rest of the Bears defense showed up to play as well.

Newton and the Panthers offense scored just three points on the day and threw two interceptions while getting sacked five times on the day. Neither offense performed well by any means but the Bears were able to play mistake-free football to preserve the lead. This win also marked the Bears first winning streak in nearly two years. While it didn’t mean much in the end seeing as the team only had five victories on the season, this game marked the beginning of the Eddie Jackson era in Chicago.

Adrian Peterson has one big regret from his stint with the Saints

Detroit Lions running back Adrian Peterson misses one important thing from his time with the New Orleans Saints back in 2017: fresh beignets

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Adrian Peterson spent a summer and four regular season games with the New Orleans Saints before being quietly traded away to the Arizona Cardinals; Alvin Kamara’s breakout rookie season kind of pushed him out of the rotation behind Mark Ingram.

But there’s just one thing Peterson truly regrets from his time in New Orleans: not eating enough beignets when he had the chance.

And who can blame him? The powdered sugar-coated dessert is a New Orleans icon, served hot and fresh out of the deep fryer with a cup of simple black chicory coffee. When there isn’t a public health crisis slowing things down, the line of tourists at Cafe Du Monde runs deep at Jackson Square (though locals know better: Cafe Beignet’s spots at Decatur Street or Royal Street are the way to go near the French Quarter, but the New Orleans Coffee & Beignet Co. on St. Charles might be the best in the city).

Peterson only saw 27 carries in New Orleans, a result of the three-deep backfield, though his ability to stick around in the NFL three years later shows he still has something left in the tank. He took 22 attempts for 75 yards last week, and is expected to start against the Saints this Sunday. Peterson may not be able to threaten the Saints’ streak of 46 games played without allowing a 100-yard rusher, but you never know. He’s surprised people before.

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