How the Bengals’ rebuilt defense is preparing to stop Titans running back Derrick Henry – Cincinnati Bengals Blog

CINCINNATI — Of the many aspects that made the Cincinnati Bengals the NFL’s worst team in 2019, one stood out the most.

The rush defense.

In a season that featured a league-low two wins, Cincinnati allowed more rushing yards than any team in the NFL. From that moment, the Bengals retooled the defense with a focus on stopping the run.

Two years later, that overhaul’s biggest test will come on Saturday, in the AFC divisional playoff game against the Tennessee Titans, when Cincinnati will be tasked with shutting down one of the most dedicated rushing attacks in the NFL, led by two-time rushing champ Derrick Henry.

The Bengals are ready.

“It might seem like a passing league, but it’s still a run-first league,” Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton said. “Everybody wants to get their offense going by running the football. We know as a defense, that sets the tone.”

According to ESPN Stats & Information research, the Titans led the NFL in rushing attempts (551) and designed run plays (46.1%). Henry, who is expected to see his first action since suffering a foot injury in Week 8, averaged 117.1 rushing yards per game before getting injured, the highest average in the league.

Cincinnati’s preparation this week accounted for Henry playing, with emphasis placed on what it will take to get the 6-3, 247-pound running back on the ground.

“You’ve got to want to tackle him just as much as he wants to run it,” said Bengals defensive tackle D.J. Reader. “He wants to get in that end zone, so you’ve really got to want to tackle him.”

Reader’s arrival marked a change of course in Cincinnati’s rebuild as a franchise, not just on defense. Before he signed a four-year deal worth $53…