NASHVILLE – Derrick Henry is breaking records, and the hearts of opponents.
And he's doing it at a rapid pace.
But the Titans running back isn't satisfied or impressed with his own speed, despite reaching the fastest speed any NFL player has recorded in the league this season on his 76-yard touchdown run against the Bills on Monday night.
"I thought I was slow," Henry said on Thursday. "I can get faster and try to be faster. It was a great play, they did a great job blocking, but I need to get faster."
According to NFL's Next Gen Stats, Henry reached a top speed of 21.8 mph on that play. And yes, that's currently the fastest speed that any player in the NFL has reached this season. Before Henry's run in the team's 34-31 win over the Bills, Raiders receiver Henry Ruggs was at the top of the list – Ruggs hit a top speed of 21.78 mph on a 51-yard catch against the Chargers in Week 4.
Henry, who ran for 143 yards and three touchdowns against the Bills, said he was buoyed by the Nissan Stadium crowd.
"That right there was electric, and we need that again at every home game," Henry said. "Hopefully they come out again and they bring that type of energy and intensity again."
The Titans face the Chiefs at Nissan Stadium this Sunday.
Henry, who leads the NFL with 783 yards and 10 touchdowns in just six games this season, can accomplish the following this week against Kansas City:
-He can record his sixth consecutive 100-yard rushing game, which would extend his career-best streak. He would tie Earl Campbell (1980) for the third-longest such streak in franchise history.
-With 68 career total touchdowns, Henry needs two more to become the third player in franchise history with 70 total touchdowns, joining Eddie George (74) and Earl Campbell (73).
-A three-touchdown rushing performance would make him the only player other than LaDainian Tomlinson (2006) to rush for three touchdowns in three consecutive games.
-With at least 125 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, he will become the fifth player with at least 125 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in four consecutive games within a single season in the Super Bowl era, joining Larry Johnson (five games in 2005), O.J. Simpson (five games in 1975), Frank Gore (four games in 2011) and Terrell Davis (four games in 1998).
-With at least 117 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, he can join Jim Brown (1958) and Terrell Davis (1998) as the NFL's only players with 900 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in his team's first seven games of a season.
Henry said he's focused on wins, not records and milestones.
"I don't really try to get caught up in the stats and all the record stuff or anything like that," he said. "As long as we play good as a team and get a W, I will be happy. All the other stuff will take care of itself."
"I just don't try to get too caught up in it and worry about things like that. I really worry about how well we do as a team, how we do as an offense, what I can do to help the team each and every week and how can I be better rather than, 'This record is coming up, I have the chance to break this record.' It is like, how can I better each and every week, be a better teammate, be a better leader of this team and go out there and take advantage of the opportunities I get to help this team win."
Henry knows the challenge against the Chiefs is a big one.
"It is always a battle with these guys," he said. "They are explosive on offense. I think they complement each other very well, defense to offense. When they get going, it is tough to stop. We know what type of team we are going up against and just have to be focused all week to be ready for them on Sunday."
