Derrick Henry has been a Jacksonville Jaguars killer for much of his career.
The Tennessee Titans’ eighth-year running back has finished five games against the Jaguars with at least 120 rushing yards and two times he eclipsed 200 rushing yards. His 16 career touchdowns against Jacksonville are four more than any other NFL team.
So keeping Henry in check Sunday is a must for the Jaguars.
“We have to neutralize, or limit as much as we can, going against him,” Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen said Thursday, via 1010XL. “Stopping the run is priority number one. The next priority is stopping the run. Third priority: stopping the run. If we’re able to do that and really have focus, be gap sound, we’ll be good to go.”
The Jaguars accomplished that goal when they hosted the Titans at EverBank Stadium in Week 11. Henry finished with 38 yards on 10 carries in Jacksonville’s 34-14 win. It was just the third time Henry finished with less than 50 rushing yards in a game against the Jaguars, who won all three.
“Knowing Tennessee, they’re going to be running the ball, they’re going to be making the game physical, and we understand that,” Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell said. “We know it’s a big challenge for us. He’s a guy that has done it for a long time in this league and he’s done it at a high level. He continues to do it at a high level.”
There’s a chance it’ll be the last time the Jaguars face Henry in a Titans uniform. The last two seasons on the 30-year-old running back’s contract are set to automatically void, making Henry a free agent this spring.
Jacksonville can’t afford to let him go out with a bang.
