Three questions with Titans RB Derrick Henry

Ron Clements

Three questions with Titans RB Derrick Henry image

The Titans are massive underdogs in Sunday’s AFC divisional playoff against the Patriots.

Tennessee running back Derrick Henry knows it will be difficult to knock off the defending Super Bowl champions in Foxborough (8:15 p.m. ET Saturday, CBS).

Henry summed up the key to the game with one word: efficiency.

"They’ve been to the playoffs a lot, great organization," Henry said of the Patriots. "We know we have to be better than we were last week, executing plays that are called, and just practicing on being efficient on every drive we have.

"We just gotta finish drives and be efficient on drives just so we can get touchdowns. You never want to come up short against a team like that because they're so good."

Titans-Patriots DAZN graphic

After rushing for 156 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in last week’s wild-card win over the Chiefs, Henry is ready to carry the load again with DeMarco Murray still out with a knee injury.

"I am just trying to play better every week," Henry told reporters this week. "We get another chance to play against a great team, and in a good environment. I am just making sure I am doing all the right things this week so I’ll be ready on Saturday."

Titans coach Mike Mularkey said Henry has "come a long way" since the Titans selected the former Alabama running back in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

"He’s a big man. He’s a fast, big man and powerful. ... He can move piles, and he did that and it certainly helped our cause in beating the Chiefs," Mularkey said during a conference call.

Here are three questions with Titans RB Derrick Henry

Question: Why did you decide to mimic Chris Johnson’s touchdown celebration after you scored against the Chiefs?

Henry: "Chris Johnson did a lot of good things for this organization — he was a great player in the league when he was here. I just did the celebration — I’d seen him do it a couple of times. I just did it out of love and respect for him."

Q: How much fun are you having with all this?

Henry: "It’s my job. I am just going in there trying to win games. But it is always fun when you are playing football."

Q: Did you get stronger in Kansas City as the game went on?

Henry: "I got more in the flow of the game. I feel like the more carries I get, the more flow I get and just keep it rolling with me and the whole offense.

"We want to let this momentum carry on into the next game."

 

Ron Clements