When the Patriots and Ravens square off Sunday night, there's a lot more on the line than just playoff positioning-though make no mistake, that’s the headline. Both teams are deep in the hunt, and this primetime clash could have major implications for how the AFC postseason picture shakes out. But beneath the surface of this high-stakes matchup, there’s an intriguing subplot rooted in mutual respect and shared history.
That subplot? Derrick Henry vs. Mike Vrabel.
Before Henry became the Ravens’ bruising backfield force, he spent six years running through defenses under Vrabel’s watch in Tennessee. Together, they built something formidable.
Henry racked up over 8,200 rushing yards and 80 touchdowns during their time with the Titans, a stretch that included some of the most dominant rushing performances of the last decade. And while those days are in the rearview, the familiarity between the two is front and center this week.
“It’s a huge challenge,” Vrabel said earlier this week. And he wasn’t sugarcoating it.
Henry isn’t your typical back. At 6-foot-3 and north of 240 pounds, he’s a freight train with elite top-end speed and a stiff arm that’s sent more than a few defenders flying. Vrabel knows exactly what his defense is up against-not just because he’s watched the tape, but because he helped shape the player.
“He’s a very unique player,” Vrabel continued. “Great speed, great power, strength. He’s just a different body type than what anybody would go against, and so it’s unique in that regard.”
But it’s not just Henry’s physical gifts that make him dangerous. Vrabel pointed to the Ravens’ run scheme as another layer of complexity.
Baltimore mixes in multiple personnel groupings and diverse run concepts, which makes defending Henry even more difficult. You can’t just key in on one look or one style-they’ll hit you with zone, power, counter, and everything in between.
“They do a very nice job with their scheme,” Vrabel said. “Different personnel groups, different run plan and styles of run, and different run actions. So again, we know what he’s about-build speed and stiff arm and all that other stuff.”
There’s clearly still a lot of mutual respect between coach and player. Vrabel called Henry “somebody that I really valued” during their time together, crediting him as a cornerstone of the Titans’ identity during those years. Henry, for his part, returned the compliment, calling Vrabel “a great coach” when he spoke to the media on Thursday.
But come Sunday night, all that history takes a back seat. The Ravens are looking to solidify their playoff seeding.
The Patriots are clawing to stay in the mix. And Derrick Henry?
He’s not interested in nostalgia-he’s interested in yards, touchdowns, and wins.
This matchup isn’t just personal. It’s pivotal.