By Canadian Press

Derrick Henry, Titans stun Patriots 20-13 in wild-card upset

Jan 4, 2020 | 10:43 PM

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Derrick Henry rushed for 182 yards and a touchdown while Tennessee’s defence stymied Tom Brady and perhaps ended his championship-filled New England career with a 20-13 wild-card victory Saturday night.

As a dense fog that shrouded Gillette Stadium for the first half dissipated, it became clear that the Patriots, who made the last three Super Bowls and won two, no longer were the bullies on the block. Six-time champ Brady’s contract is up and the 42-year-old quarterback could well be headed elsewhere, including retirement.

Meanwhile, the Titans (10-7) are headed next week to Baltimore, the league’s top team.

There was no scoring in the second half when All-Pro Brett Kern’s 58-yard punt that took up 10 seconds rolled down at the New England 1. Brady then was picked by former Patriot Logan Ryan for a 9-yard touchdown to finish off the Patriots (12-5), who at one point were 8-0.

The game’s first three possessions wound up as three long scoring drives. A 29-yard screen pass to James White set up Nick Folk’s 36-yard field goal, but Tennessee answered with a 75-yard march built around Henry. He had no role on the touchdown, Tannehill’s pass to a Harvard man, tight end Anthony Firkser that made it 7-3.

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New England counterpunched with its own 75-yard drive, taking temporary control of the game by victimizing Tennessee’s defence on the outside. The Titans looked slow trying to protect the flanks as Sony Michel broke off a 25-yard run and White had a 14-yarder.

Julian Edelman finished it with the first rushing touchdown of his 11 pro seasons, a 5-yard dash to the unprotected left side of the Tennessee D.

New England appeared primed for another touchdown after Mohamed Sanu’s 14-yard punt return set up the Patriots at the Titans 47, and they steadily drove to first-and-goal at the 1.

All they got was Folk’s 21-yard field goal as three runs failed. It was the 13th time the Patriots had first-and-goal at the 1 in a playoff game in the Brady era and the first time they failed to get a TD on the drive.

Tannehill led the NFL with a career-best 117.5 passer rating and by averaging 9.6 yards per pass attempt. But he didn’t do a whole lot Saturday night in his first post-season game: 8 for 15 for 72 yards. His awful decision to put the ball up for grabs on the first play of the fourth quarter resulted in Duron Harmon’s interception.

But New England’s spotty attack stalled and never revived. That has not been unusual during the second half of the schedule.

BIRTHDAY BOY

Henry celebrated his 26th birthday by getting the most rushing yards against a Bill Belichick-coached Patriots team in the playoffs. He set an early tone by rushing for 49 of the Titans’ 75 yards on their opening touchdown drive. On the Titans’ second 75-yard TD march, all Henry did was gain every yard: 22 on a screen pass and 53 rushing, including a 1-yard dive into the end zone for a 14-13 halftime lead. Those were Tennessee’s first points in the final two minutes of the opening half since Week 8.

He led the NFL in rushing this season with 1,540 yards in 15 games, the fourth-most rushing yards in franchise history. Henry also ran for 16 TDs, second most in team history.

INJURIES

Titans: Linebacker Jayon Brown hurt his shoulder in the first half.

Patriots: Safety Patrick Chung left in the first quarter with an ankle issue.

NEXT UP

Titans: Head to Baltimore in the divisional round.

Patriots: Head home early, failing to become the second team to make four straight Super Bowls. And wondering where Brady is headed.

___

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Barry Wilner, The Associated Press