There is good news for the Baltimore Ravens’ pass defense: They are no longer last in the league in yardage allowed (3,823 total/254.9 per game).
Sure, there is only one team worse, the Jacksonville Jaguars (3,945 total/260 per game allowed), but it’s something. They have made a little progress, but a new challenge, with strong potential to halt that progress, awaits- Houston Texans wideout Nico Collins.
He’ll enter the Christmas Day contest 14th in the NFL in yards per reception at 15.1 and 17th in receiving yards with 909. He is truly a force to be reckoned with: ask the man who holds nearly every Texans franchise receiving record, Andre Johnson.
“It makes you smile because it’s like when you see a guy put in the work and do the things he needs to do and the way he plays,” the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame selection said of Collins in an exclusive with RG.org. “Man, I love the way he plays the game.
“To me, he reminds me of myself a little bit.
“I love his physicality. He makes you want to watch the game of football. What he’s doing, man, it’s been a lot of fun to watch, and I just hope he continues it.”
Collins got off to a rip-roaring start. Four games in, he was on a pace that would easily eclipse 2,000 yards receiving for the season. He has since returned to Earth after being slowed by a hamstring injury that forced him to miss five games.
However, he’s still very dangerous. ESPN Analytics projects him to finish with 1,000+ receiving yards again on 68 catches and exactly 100 targets. It will be interesting to see who draws coverage assignment(s) on Collins and what approach Ravens Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr takes to defending him.
Kyle Hamilton, the Ravens’ overall best defender (arguably) and general “Swiss Army Knife,” will be an integral part of the plan. Marlon Humphrey, fresh off his pick-six that had the whole football world talking this weekend, will be confident right now.
Expect him to be involved as well.
