Derrick Henry couldn’t have asked for a better present for his 26th birthday.
The former Alabama rusher was a huge factor on offense as the Titans recorded a 20-13 road win over the New England Patriots in the first round of the postseason.
New England practically eliminated the Titans’ passing game, as the team recorded just 76 yards in the air.
On the victory, became the first player will 200 scrimmage yards against a Patriots team coached by Bill Belichick in the playoffs and set the franchise record for scrimmage yards in a postseason contest.
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Henry was a force from the very beginning, with 49 rushing yards on the team’s opening possession alone. He totaled 100 yards on the ground by halftime.
He finished the game with 34 carries for 182 yards and a touchdown, also reeling in a reception for 22 yards against the NFL’s best defense.
“We knew what type of game this was going to be,” Henry said. “We were coming into a hostile environment… we just have to play our game.”
.@Titans RB @KingHenry_2 on win over @Patriots pic.twitter.com/wKD7GyWBgb
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) January 5, 2020
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After not being utilized nearly enough at the start of the season, Henry has secured the NFL’s rushing title, and now totals 1,722 rushing yards between the regular season and the postseason.
Henry and the Titans will face the Baltimore Ravens in the next round of the playoffs in M&T Bank Stadium next week.