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Derrick Henry tied an NFL record while stomping Jacksonville Jaguars

By Erik Lambert

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 6: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs with the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 6: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs with the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry has been inconsistent this year, but don’t bother telling that to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A team that was supposed to have one of the best defenses in the NFL will be seeing him in their nightmares for the rest of the year after what happened on Thursday Night Football. One wouldn’t think this considering he only got 17 carries, but don’t be fooled. That more than he needed to turn in one of the greatest rushing performances in NFL history at 238 yards and four touchdowns.

The night was punctuated by what happened in the 2nd quarter. A play that broke the game open for Tennessee who never looked back. Things seemed perfect for Jacksonville at the time. Though they were down 7-2, they had the Titans pinned at their own one-yard line. They’d already delivered one safety earlier in the game. This was a perfect chance for a second.

Tennessee needed breathing space. So they did the logical thing and gave it to their big back to see if he could churn out a few yards. Ten seconds later, NFL history had been made.

Derrick Henry became just the 2nd player ever with a 99-yard run

Before this game, there had been just 14 plays in NFL history that went for 99 yards and a touchdown on offense. Only one of those plays was a run. That came from Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett who accomplished it in 1982 against the Minnesota Vikings. It was a mark nobody thought would ever be touched again. Especially as the league trended more towards passing the ball and defenses became more sophisticated and faster.

It just goes to show that records were made to be broken. Or equaled in this case. Henry’s size and power led to multiple missed tackles on that play along with his underrated speed. It was a magnificent run that may have kept his team in the thick of the playoff race. The fact it came against a division rival that prides itself on great defense and loves to talk so much trash? That must’ve made it all the sweeter.

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