NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 11: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans scores a touchdown during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Nissan Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
The Tennessee Titans are taking care of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football, largely due to a highlight for the ages.
Derrick Henry turned one of the more boring primetime contests of the NFL season into a thriller. If only for 18 seconds.
After the Titans held the Jaguars on goal-line stand, Marcus Mariota took over and handed the ball to Derrick Henry. Hoping for some space off the goal line, Henry headed off the left side. And kept going, and going, and going.
Eventually, after a litany of missed tackles and some tough running along the sideline, the Titans led 13-2 on a record-tying 99-yard touchdown run. The only other 99-yard run in NFL history came from Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett, who set sail against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football in 1983.
For Tennessee, beating Jacksonville is essential to any hopes of making the playoffs. The Titans are sitting at 6-6 entering the night and will need to win out, something that is very possible against the Jaguars, Redskins, Giants and Colts.
As for Jacksonville, the season was lost a long time ago. The Jaguars are 4-8 and playing out the string with Blake Bortles on the bench and Cody Kessler under center. When 2019 rolls around, there’s a good chance both will be gone.