During last season’s AFC Championship Game, Derrick Henry couldn’t help but think: What if?
“Hell, yeah,” Henry said this week when asked if he wondered what might have happened if the Baltimore Ravens had succeeded in their bid to obtain him from the Tennessee Titans at last season’s NFL trade deadline.
The Ravens had the NFL’s best regular-season record at 13-4 in 2023. But in the AFC Championship Game, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated Baltimore 17-10 as the Ravens’ running backs combined for 23 yards on six rushing attempts.
Henry won’t need to wonder on Thursday night. The former Alabama All-American running back made it to Baltimore in NFL free agency this offseason and will be in the backfield when the Ravens and Chiefs square off at 7:20 CDT at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
“I was wishing I could suit up that day watching that game,” Henry said. “But, yeah, now it’s my turn, so got to take advantage of it. It’s going to be a hell of a game. The Chiefs are always tough.”
Although it’s a different year, Henry said the Baltimore holdovers who lost one win short of the Super Bowl last season naturally will feel Thursday night’s game a little more acutely.
“Of course it’s going to be that,” Henry said. “That was who they lost to to get to the big one, so I’m sure that’s in the back of their minds, and want to come out and play Ravens style of football, execute so that we get a ‘W.’ But yes, I’m sure that’s in the back of their minds, and I’m sure everybody is locked in and going to be ready to go.”
After beating Baltimore, Kansas City edged the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime in Super Bowl LVIII. The Chiefs have won the past two NFL championship games, played in the previous six AFC title contests and reached the Super Bowl four times, with three victories, in the past five seasons.
But even with Kansas City’s success, Henry has a 4-2 record against the Chiefs, with 572 yards and eight touchdowns on 120 rushing attempts with the Titans. In four regular-season games against Kansas City, Henry has averaged 5.73 yards per carry.
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“They’re a great team,” Henry said. “Been a great team for a while now. Their defense is solid. I think they’re solid from top to bottom, have willing tacklers, they’re disruptive, so you just have to bring your A-game when you’re going up against those guys.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have success when we’ve played them.”
That is not lost on Ravens coach John Harbaugh, whose team has won one of its past six games against Kansas City.
“It’s going to feel great to have Derrick Henry on our side,” Harbaugh said. “It’s going to be a wonderful thing. I’m looking forward to it.”
Henry joined Baltimore in free agency for a two-year, $16 million contract. Although the most accomplished running back available on the open market this offseason, Henry didn’t get the biggest deal after turning 30 years old on Jan. 4.
“My body feels the same,” Henry said. “It hasn’t changed much. I know the age difference, but my body still feels good.”
As last year’s league champion, Kansas City earned the privilege of hosting the first game of this NFL season. NBC will televise the contest.
“At the end of the day, it’s just football,” Henry said. “What I’ve been playing since I was 5 years old. But the atmosphere and it being the first game, at night, them coming off a Super Bowl, it being at home at Arrowhead — which you know the environment is going to be loud, it’s going to be hostile — but that’s what you want, especially on opening night with everybody watching the first game of the year to kick off the 2024 season, so I’m excited.
“It’s going to be fun, so I’m looking forward to it.”
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
