CINCINNATI — Over 10 NFL seasons and 132 video games performed, Hunter Henry by no means had a sport like Sunday’s.
Henry piled up a career-high 115 yards over seven catches through the Patriots’ 26-20 win at Cincinnati. It was the third 100-yard receiving sport of his profession and fourth straight week the Pats have produced a 100-yard receiver, following DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins and Stefon Diggs.
“Yeah, I feel the largest factor is it’s a brand new man each week,” Drake Maye mentioned post-game. “You realize, it might be — with Hunter stepping up, he’s an amazing participant on this league. You realize him and (Austin Hooper), they provide us a one-two punch on the tight finish place to run the soccer, be within the passing sport. They do an amazing job, and Hunter, he’s Mr. Constant. He’s each week.”
Henry’s earlier excessive was 109 yards in an additional time loss to Seattle final season. The 30-year-old feasted on a Bengals protection that has struggled to defend tight ends all 12 months. Maye focused him early and infrequently, together with for a 28-yard landing within the second quarter.
“It was a reasonably good scheme by Josh and the entire teaching workers,” Henry mentioned of the landing. “(They) simply referred to as it on the proper time and (it was) an amazing name, and guys protected (Maye). I imply, it takes all 11 guys. Guys ran the routes to clear issues out, and the spacing was good. So, plenty of guys stepped up in an enormous means.”
Henry repeatedly exploited Cincinnati’s comfortable zone protection and beat linebackers in 1-on-1 protection. Hooper was the Patriots’ second-leading receiver with 39 receiving yards.
“Hunter was large,” Mike Vrabel mentioned.
Henry would have had a second landing within the third quarter have been it not for an offensive cross interference penalty referred to as towards Hollins. He stays one of many Patriots’ finest and most constant offensive gamers. Henry is now 138 yards away from setting a brand new profession excessive in single-season receiving yards with 5 video games nonetheless to play.
“I simply take plenty of satisfaction in what I do. I work extraordinarily laborious at my craft, and at this sport,” he mentioned. “I put plenty of hours into this, and plenty of hours with Drake, too. And it was cool to go on the market and make some performs with (Hooper).”
