A lot about Derrick Henry's odd second season with the Baltimore Ravens will need contextualization for anyone curious as to why the veteran running back failed to recreate his meteoric debut in the black,

FOXBOROUGH — The New England Patriots ' defense will have its hands full, having to defend star running back Derrick Henry in this week's matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. But, there is one person on the staff who can help them prepare, as he has a lot of experience working with the All-Pro.

He averaged 40.8 yards per carry in Week 8 on four carries, and since Week 10, he has never had a game where he has averaged less than five yards per attempt. In Week 14, he produced his highest rushing yards total (76), and in Week 15, he was given a season-high eight carries, resulting in 66 yards on the ground.

Derrick Henry’s $240,000 annual diet and recovery plan shows how he stays productive at 31. His regimen includes delayed eating, gluten-free meals, intense two-a-day workouts and specialized therapies. Henry’s preparation directly fuels his durability, powering Ravens’ offense in their playoff pursuit.

Henry was a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee in back-to-back years (2021-22) when he was with the Tennessee Titans. Now with the Ravens, Henry continues to hit milestones, passing Payton in career rushing touchdowns earlier this season and becoming the league's 11 th all-time leading rusher last week.

Derrick Henry becomes just the fourth player to tally at least 3,000 rushing yards in their first two seasons with a new team.

USA Today's NFL experts make their picks for a Week 16 showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots

QB Lamar Jackson lofts a perfect pass to WR Zay Flowers for a 28-yard touchdown against the Bengals.