If the Texans upend the Patriots on Sunday, they’ll advance to the AFC title game for the first time in franchise history. The Texans will have to do it without their best offensive weapon. Wide receiver Nico Collins will miss the divisional round with a concussion, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 relays.
Collins suffered his injury in a 30-6 drubbing of the Steelers in a wild-card round matchup on Monday. After seeing Collins carted off the field in Pittsburgh, it’s unsurprising he hasn’t cleared concussion protocol on a short week. The 26-year-old hasn’t practiced at all this week.
Collins may have a better chance to return next week, but it’ll be a moot point if fifth-seeded Houston doesn’t go on the road to defeat second-seeded New England. While Collins has thrived on the offensive side, an elite defense that ranked first in yards and second in points during the regular season has carried the Texans this far.
Houston’s defensive dominance continued against the Steelers, who managed just 175 yards of offense. The Texans scored two defensive touchdowns and sacked Aaron Rodgers four times. Another stellar defensive performance may be needed in a meeting with the Patriots and MVP-contending quarterback Drake Maye.
Collins earned his second straight Pro Bowl nod this year after hauling in 71 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. Tight end Dalton Schultz caught more passes (82), but Collins either led or co-led the Texans in the other two categories. With Collins out of commission, the Texans’ C.J. Stroud-led passing game will likely rely more on Schultz, Jayden Higgins, Christian Kirk, and Xavier Hutchinson.
The Texans also won’t have depth receiver Justin Watson, who joins Collins in concussion protocol. Either Braxton Berrios or practice squad wideout Jared Wayne could take Watson’s roster spot, Wilson notes.
Ouch. Big loss.
Too bad, he is a true superstar. Thats why I took the Patriots, can others step up to help this defense?
Pats get all the breaks. The third easiest schedule in NFL history and they get to play all the top teams when they are missing their best players.
Why don’t you cry about it, saddlebags!
I love that the Pats are back and everyone in the US who is NOT a Pats fan can hate them again.
NFL was better when there is a villain or two. Pats were the best at that role.
I don’t think people hate the Pats right now. And when they collapsed, the Chiefs did a pretty good job of filling that void. I don’t think anyone has taken on that role at the moment, though, due to the sheer amount of parity across the league
This is so boring now. Patriots had a very similar schedule as Buffalo did, and no one’s talking about that. Outside of a washed up Chiefs and Houston, whom the patriots play this weekend, same schedule. Patriots beat Buffalo in Buffalo, beat Atlanta, and swept Miami. Teams Buffalo lost to. Point is, it’s any given Sunday. Easy schedule or not…. You don’t win 14 games if your team sucks too. If this was last season, I’d be surprised if the patriots win half those games.
Similar schedule? They played some common teams (as division rivals) but the Pats did not get the Texans (on the road) or KC, and many of their tougher matches were at home. The third easiest schedule in AFC history (not the year, but all time). Texans defense will be a real test and if their offense has any consistency today, New England is going down.
You’re literally repeating what I said, so thank you for proving my point
No Nixon and no Collins. Having solid backups is going to have greater importance as we move to longer and longer schedules.
You’re literally repeating what I said so thank you!