‘Every ball in the air is mine,’ Texans wide receiver Nico Collins torments Colts again with another clutch performance

INDIANAPOLIS – Nico Collins wasn’t concerned. Why worry when he’s one of the most imposing wide receivers in the NFL? And why stress, considering his dominant track record against the Indianapolis Colts.

In his first game against the Colts after a career-high nine receptions for 195 yards, including a 75-yard bomb for a touchdown in a pivotal AFC South division clinching victory last season, Collins tormented them again.

Collins leapt over cornerback JuJu Brents, who surrendered the 75-yard score as he got scorched last season in single coverage,, and safety Nick Cross for a 55-yard catch as he high-pointed an underthrown pass from Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud. And he delivered a dramatic first down on a critical 3rd-and-11 situation in the fourth quarter to close out a 29-27 victory Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium while leading the Texans with six receptions for 117 yards on eight targets.

In his last three games combined against the Colts, Collins has recorded 22 receptions for 458 yards and two touchdowns on 26 targets and set an opponent franchise record against Indianapolis with 341 receiving yards against them last season.

“It ain’t nothing major, I’m just being me,” Collins said. “Out there rocking out for the team, just enjoying the moment. Not making the moment bigger than what it is. Same game you play your whole life. You prepare for those moments. Then when the moment comes, make a play.”

Signed to a three-year, $75 million contract extension this offseason, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound former third-round draft pick from Michigan remains Stroud’s favorite downfield target when he absolutely needs someone to make a play.

Collins is ultra-reliable. There isn’t a play on the field he can’t make.

“Big-time playmaker, and he’s done it a couple times here versus the Colts,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “So, that’s what Nico does. He makes big-time plays in the moment when we needed it most. What a play, what an awesome catch. For him to get down inbounds, it was really big-time.”

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The Texans absolutely needed Collins to get past the first-down marker while clinging to a 29-27 lead in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. The stakes were high as Collins created a small seam for Stroud to deliver the ball to Collins despite tight coverage from overmatched corner Jaylon Jones. One knee equals two feet, and Collins landed inbounds and an instant replay review challenged it was a legal catch.

“It was huge,” Stroud said. “I definitely think that we love those types of moments. Got to have it, need it right here. He did a great job of securing the catch. I tried to put it in a spot where he could get it. The DB kind of played it well. You know what they say: ‘No perfect defense for the perfect throw.’”

In the first half, Collins’ 55-yard catch led to Stefon Diggs’ nine-yard touchdown.

It was big-boy football.

A vital part of an ultra-talented Texans receiving corps, Stroud’s 55-yard pass to Collins had a completion probability of 16.6%, Stroud’s most improbable completion of his NFL career, according to NextGen Stats analytics. Brents and Cross were within one yard of Collins when the ball arrived.

“I feel like every ball in the air is mine,” Collins said. “That’s the mindset you have to have, regardless. Get my route, look up, ball in the air. Two people right there, it’s time to make a play.”

Collins also had a 19-yard reception. He made play after play as the Texans got off to a 1-0 start. The 19-yard catch set up a Joe Mixon touchdown run.

“When I catch the ball, that first dude is not tackling me,” said Collins, one of the bigger wide receivers in the NFL at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. “I feel like that’s my mindset. I’m going to go score. I know I’m a bigger body, bigger frame. I’ve got to use it. Be physical. I feel like if you play full speed all the time, it’s going to be hard to come down. So, I feel like, for me, just catch a ball and just run. Run through whoever you see. Go score, go put points on the board. I feel like you do that over and over and over, that shows the team that you want it. It puts fear in opposing defenses like, ‘Yeah, they’re not quitting.’

“Especially you keep going all four quarters just head down, just on a mission. And I feel like that’s what I’m doing just always finding room for improvement on my game no matter what it is. Release at the line of scrimmage, attacking the ball, trying to make my routes look the same because I am a bigger target.”

Every day at practice, the Texans conduct passing drills to prepare for these specific situational football plays. It’s about being ready for the moment.

“I think it’s not just me looking for Nico, it’s really just our preparation for that drill of just working the scramble drill,” Stroud said. “We have certain things that we want to get done in that, but I think when we stay true to that, the sky is the limit when it comes to scrambling because I try to run a little more.”

For Collins, it’s about maximizing the moment. He caught a career-high 80 passes for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns in a breakthrough season last year.

“They believe in me, man,” Collins said. “It means a lot.”

NOTES: Backup cornerback Jeff Okudah aggravated a hip muscle injury that sidelined him during the preseason and didn’t return. ... The Texans’ inactives included running back Cam Akers, who excelled in the preseason. Akers is behind running back Dameon Pierce on the depth chart. Pierce rushed for 16 yards on three carries after gaining just nine yards on eight carries in the preseason with limited holes to run through. ... The Texans’ other inactives were safety M..J. Stewart (knee-quadriceps), rookie linebacker Jamal Hill, wide receiver John Metchie III and offensive lineman Nick Broeker.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.