Man, the Tennessee Titans are already staring down an 0-3 start to the 2026 season, and things are about to get even worse. They’ve got the Baltimore Ravens up next, which is tough enough with Baltimore’s defense ready to mess with Cam Ward and Lamar Jackson being a nightmare to defend. But the real gut punch here? Derrick Henry, in his very first game against his former team since joining the Ravens, is about to drop a historic performance on them.
The Titans’ Massive Tackling Problem
Look, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley laid it all out for us, and it’s ugly. The Titans’ defense is in a world of trouble against Henry this weekend, and it all boils down to one huge issue: tackling. Hensley pointed out that “tackling will be a major factor in how Henry fares in his first game against his former team.” And when you dig into the numbers, you see exactly why this is such a dangerous matchup for Tennessee.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Henry vs. the Tackling Duds
This season, Henry has already racked up 138 rushing yards after first contact. That’s good for third-most in the entire NFL. Think about that for a second: he’s breaking tackles and making guys pay after they’ve already gotten a hand on him. Now, flip that to the Titans’ defense. They’ve given up a staggering 220 rushing yards after contact. That’s the third-worst in the league! This isn’t just bad, it’s a disaster when you’re about to face a guy like Henry.
When you consider that the Titans’ defense has faced 104 run attempts for a total of 379 yards this season, those 220 yards allowed after contact are a flashing red light. They’re not just struggling to stop rushers initially, they’re letting guys churn out huge chunks of yards even after making contact. And who’s coming to town? A guy who is absolutely elite at getting yards after that first contact. It’s a perfect storm for a nightmare scenario.
So, what does this mean for Henry’s reunion game? It means the Ravens’ running back is absolutely primed for a monster day. Henry against this Titans defense isn’t just a game; it’s shaping up to be a massive performance. The Titans are 0-3, and unless they find some tackling mojo they haven’t shown all season, they’re probably looking at 0-4 after this one. Get ready for some serious highlights from the King.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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