When Derrick Henry departed the Tennessee Titans as an NFL free agent to join the Baltimore Ravens in March, the Houston Texans likely didn’t shed any tears.
During his tenure with the Titans, the former Alabama All-American consistently tormented the Texans like few running backs have ever tormented a single franchise.
Henry shares the NFL record for most 200-yard rushing games with six, a distinction he holds alongside O.J. Simpson and Adrian Peterson.
Out of the 163 instances of 200-yard rushing performances in league history, only ten players have managed to do it twice against the same team. Among them is Henry, who accomplished the feat twice against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, Henry stands alone as the only player in NFL history to rush for 200 yards against the same team more than twice—achieving this remarkable feat four times against Houston.
With Henry leaving the AFC South, the Texans might have hoped for a respite from facing the running back who had caused them so much grief. As division rivals, the Texans typically played the Titans twice a year, but Henry’s departure seemed to spell the end of that familiar challenge.
Despite this change, the Texans will still encounter Henry in the 2024 season. Houston is set to face Baltimore for the 13th time in franchise history on Sunday, during the second half of the NFL’s Christmas doubleheader.
This matchup offers Henry an opportunity to add to the 1,431 career rushing yards he has amassed against the Texans.
Heading into Sunday’s game, Henry has racked up 1,636 rushing yards in the 2024 season, making him the league’s second-leading rusher.
“I think Derrick has found that fountain of youth,” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s playing fast. He’s playing physical. He’s as tough as ever. Looks like the old Derrick Henry. He’s running low and powerful. He’s breaking off some really long runs, including touchdowns, so he’s got it all—speed, physicality.
He brings everything. The Ravens’ O-line is doing a great job opening up lanes for him, so it’s going to be a tough matchup for us. They’re probably the best running unit we’ve faced all year.”
The Ravens lead the AFC in total rushing yards with 2,718 and boast the NFL’s best average yards per carry at 5.7 in 2024.
Henry’s most recent standout performance came on Saturday, when he rushed for 162 yards in a 34-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The win allowed Baltimore to tie with Pittsburgh for the AFC North’s top spot. Both teams have already clinched playoff berths, but the division winner will secure a home-field advantage for the postseason, while the runner-up will play on the road.
Meanwhile, Houston has also clinched its playoff berth and locked up the AFC South title.
The Texans and Ravens are scheduled to meet at 3:30 p.m. CST on Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston. The game follows an earlier matchup between the Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs, who will kick off at noon at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
