When you think of broken tackles, no running back comes to mind before Tennessee Titans star rusher, Derrick Henry — well, at least for those of us who didn’t work on the “Madden NFL 22” video game.
Henry routinely runs defenders over on the football field thanks to his size and underrated speed, and we’ve seen him stiff-arm several players into another dimension during the course of his career.
The Alabama product has compiled more yards after contact since 2019 than all but two entire teams, according to Pro Football Focus. Also, in that same span, Henry has more yards after contact than all but one running back (Dalvin Cook) has total rushing yards, per PFF.
No player in the NFL is tougher to bring down than Henry. Period.
However, none of that matters to Madden NFL 22, as the video game gave Henry a break tackle rating of 95, ranking third among all running backs.
Yes, third.
It takes more than one person to bring these RBs down 😤 @EAMaddenNFL pic.twitter.com/MZixeCnDFv
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 29, 2021
Of course, breaking tackles is more than just about running through people and using a stiff-arm, but Henry can also make guys miss with nasty cuts near the line of scrimmage and in the open field.
Dalvin Cook and Nick Chubb are great running backs, no doubt, but neither should be ahead of Henry on this list. Furthermore, the former Heisman Trophy winner should easily be rated a 99 in the category.
If you don’t believe me, just ask former Buffalo Bills cornerback, Josh Norman:
Derrick Henry 😳💪
📺: #BUFvsTEN on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/OpBjfUCJHl pic.twitter.com/d178z1HPpW— NFL (@NFL) October 14, 2020
Or former Detroit Lions cornerback, Alex Myres:
Derrick Henry with the MEAN stiff arm! 👑
📺: Watch #DETvsTEN on CBS pic.twitter.com/1jhPLFZncg
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) December 20, 2020
Or the countless Jacksonville Jaguars players who have fallen victim to Henry’s massive 6-foot-3, 247-pound frame over the years.
Derrick Henry, a 99-yard GROWN MAN run
(via @Titans) pic.twitter.com/NHf023N7fo
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 7, 2018
I mean, come on…
This is the second snub Henry has seen in Madden ratings thus far. He landed tied for No. 2 in overall rating among running backs with a 96, one point behind Carolina Panthers rusher, Christian McCaffrey.
