It is so exciting to watch Derrick Henry because it feels like you are getting to see a Hall of Fame resume being written every week. Week 3 isn’t just any week though… This is the week the Tennessee Titans host the Indianapolis Colts, and this time, things feel different.
When you look at all the factors, this seems like a week where everything is trending towards a monster day for Derrick Henry. Did you read that correctly? We are talking about a guy whose average day looks like a monster day for ordinary running backs, so imagine what that could mean.
Why is this week different for Derrick Henry?
Let’s start with the player himself. Derrick Henry has always been a slow starter, in fact over 18 career games in September, he has looked downright average. However last week Henry set career highs in attempts and receptions, and he actually had the third-most yards from scrimmage in his career.
While normally that means more attention for Henry, the fact is that in Week 1 A.J. Brown looked like his normal, dangerous self and in Week 2 Julio Jones had 100 receiving yards in the first 20 minutes of game time. Defenses can’t afford to cheat and go all-in on stopping the running game when the passing attack is that deadly.
It also looks like the Tennessee Titans will have their full arsenal of offensive linemen with the only exception being Aaron Brewer possibly playing for Rodger Saffold, but Brewer has looked great in the two games where he has been pressed into action (including last week’s win).
On top of all of that, you have the fact that the Colts’ defense has been terrible at stopping the run this year. In two games the Colts have allowed 4.9 yards per carry to Sony Michel, Darrell Henderson, and Chris Carson.
So to sum it up:
-The Colts have a bad run defense
-Tennessee’s offense is starting to click
-Derrick Henry is starting out stronger than he ever has before
The final cherry on top of this is that Henry and the Titans had all of the hype in the world going into Week 1 and in front of the first real home crowd since 2019, they laid an absolute egg. They got battered and embarrassed and after it took so long to get Nissan Stadium filled with fans instead of tourists coming to watch their team play Tennessee, those fans left disappointed.
Indianapolis is the perfect outlet for all of that rage and frustration and this team should be frothing at the mouth to really dominate a game. Mike Vrabel has no excuses and the Titans should be on top of the AFC South on Monday.