Titans win AFC South as Derrick Henry tops 2,000 yards

AP photo by Sam Craft / Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) breaks away from Houston Texans defensive end Charles Omenihu during the second half of Sunday's game in Houston. Henry rushed for 250 yards on 34 carries to finish the regular season with 2,027 yards on the ground and set a franchise record, and the Titans won 41-38 to earn their first division title since the 2008 season. AP photo by Sam Craft / Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) breaks away from Houston Texans defensive end Charles Omenihu during the second half of Sunday's game in Houston. Henry rushed for 250 yards on 34 carries to finish the regular season with 2,027 yards on the ground and set a franchise record, and the Titans won 41-38 to earn their first division title since the 2008 season.

By KRISTIE RIEKEN / The Associated Press January 3, 2021 5 min read

HOUSTON – Derrick Henry ran into the NFL record books with the best game of his career.

It was a lucky bounce, though, that gave the Tennessee Titans a win over Houston Texans to close the regular season and their first AFC South Division title since 2008.

Henry ran for a career-high 250 yards to surpass 2,000 rushing yards for the season, and rookie Sam Sloman’s 37-yard field goal bounced off an upright and through for the 41-38 victory.

“I told them I’m fortunate and proud to be their coach,” Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel said. “They don’t quit. They don’t give in, and I know there’s times where you could. I think unfortunately that happens sometimes in this league. They didn’t. They battled back.”

The Titans (11-5) needed the air game to set up Sloman’s winner, though: A 52-yard throw from quarterback Ryan Tannehill to A.J. Brown moments after a 51-yard field goal by Houston tied it with 18 seconds left.