Dec 11, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a short gain during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Cowboys: Inside the numbers for Week 17
The Dallas Cowboys (11-4) and the Tennessee Titans (7-8) are heading in opposite directions as the two meet on Thursday night at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The Cowboys have won five of their last six, capturing a second-straight playoff berth and a possible NFC East title still in play. As for the Titans, who have lost five straight, they are still clinging to a possible playoff berth but will need plenty of help to get there. Here is a look inside the numbers the Titans will bring into Thursday’s game.
2 – There have only been eight seasons where a running back has eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards in a season, and the Titans franchise has two of them. Current running back Derrick Henry finished the 2020 season with 2,027 yards, good for fourth best on the most rushing yards in a season list. Chris Johnson broke the barrier in 2009 when he rushed for 2,006 yards. The Titans are the only franchise with two backs on the list. The others to eclipse the 2,000-yard mark are Buffalo’s O.J. Simpson (2,003 yards) in 1973, Denver’s Terrell Davis (2,008) in 1998, Detroit’s Barry Sanders (2,053) in 1997, Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis (2,066) in 2003, Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson (2,097) in 2012 and L.A. Rams’ Eric Dickerson (2,105) in 1984.
8 – Despite spending most of their time together in the same state, the Cowboys and Titans franchises have met just 15 times since 1970. Dallas holds just a one-game lead but suffered a 28-14 loss the last time the two teams met in November of 2018. In that meeting, Marcus Mariota outdueled Dak Prescott, who was sacked five times in the loss.
42 – Rookie quarterback Malik Willis will make his fourth start of the season in relief of Ryan Tannehill. Willis is the 42nd quarterback to start a game for the Tennessee/Houston franchise. With his start on Thursday night against the Cowboys, Willis will be just 144 starts from taking over the franchise lead from Warren Moon. Willis has yet to throw for 100 yards this season, earning his career-high of 99 yards in last week’s loss to Houston.
294.4 – The Tennessee Titans offense has been one of the most anemic in the NFL this season, averaging just under 295 total yards per game. Despite having the league’s second-leading rusher in Derrick Henry, who is averaging 95.3 yards per game, the Titans have been able to muster just 168.6 yards per game passing with Ryan Tannehill and Malik Willis.
470 – Averaging just over seven wins per season since 1963, the Tennessee/Houston franchise sits just 30 victories from 500. Unfortunately, that is good enough for just 20th on the all-time wins list for franchises. If you split it between the Oilers and Titans, there are just 15 wins separating the two. The Oilers finished their run in 1995 with 243 wins, 283 losses, and six ties. Since moving to Tennessee to start the 1996 season, the Titans are 227-205-0.
8,226 – In just seven seasons, Titans running back Derrick Henry has established himself as one of the premier backs in the NFL. With his 1,447 yards this season, Henry has climbed to third on the Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers’ all-time rushing list at just over 8,000 yards. He is just 348 yards behind Earl Campbell for second and 1,783 yards behind leader Eddie George. Henry already leads the team in all-time touchdowns with 78, five more than Campbell.
