C.J. Stroud has an abundance of weapons surrounding him in his sophomore season with the Texans. He found one of those talents especially useful in Houston's 19-13 victory over the Bears on Sunday night in Week 2.
Nico Collins put forth a wondrous first-half showing against Chicago. The Michigan alum flashed his impressive route-running, game-breaking speed, and toughness, proving equal parts fire and ice for a Texans side that pushed its record to a faultless 2-0.
Here's a look at Collins' numbers on Sunday night, another glittering performance in a tape increasingly filled with them for the Pinson, Ala., native.
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Nico Collins stats today vs. Bears
Final score: Texans 19, Bears 13
Stat | Total |
Targets | 10 |
Receptions | 8 |
Yards | 135 |
Touchdowns | 1 |
Collins wowed in the first half of Sunday night's contest, emerging time and time again in space to provide a safety blanket for C.J. Stroud. The fourth-year pass-catcher hauled in a touchdown pass from 28 yards out to spark his impressive display. He followed it up with an acrobatic one-handed snag along the sideline, a catch that helped the Texans manufacture an additional three points via a lengthy Ka'imi Fairbairn field goal at the end of the half.
All that amounted to a five-catch, 86-yard first half showing, his third-most productive half since entering the league (in terms of yardage accumulated). In a WR room that includes Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, Collins has been the standout figure. It was his production, coupled with that of Stroud, that helped Houston build up a six-point edge in the game's first 30 minutes.
Collins kept his strong play going in the second, racking up another three grabs to finish the day with eight catches and 135 yards. Collins posted his third-highest single-game receptions mark and fifth-highest yardage total during a night like no other at NRG Stadium.
Nico Collins highlights vs. Bears
Collins had a handful of eye-catching moments in Sunday night's matchup. He first captured the camera's glare with a 28-yard score, prancing through the secondary after reeling in an inch-perfect Stroud dart. He finished off the move with aplomb, even shoving his marker as he crossed the plane.
RIGHT OVER THE MIDDLE 🎯
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 16, 2024
📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/a7NDy99piP
The hits kept coming for Collins as the half wore on. The 25-year old captivated audiences with a bobbling one-handed grab in front of Kevin Byard as the half neared its close.
THAT'S A CATCH ‼️
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 16, 2024
📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/tlx0Gc5nHq
That snag brought Houston to Chicago's 36-yard line with 17 seconds left on the clock. Three plays later, Fairbairn's 59-yard attempt found its target, doubling the Texans' lead — and reaffirming Collins' influence over the team's scoring capabilities.
After a solid second-half showing — Collins accumulated an additional three catches for 49 yards in the game's final 30 minutes — Collins received the ultimate prize. Not only did his team walk away with a momentous win. But Collins received player of the game honors.
"This one's for the city. H-Town, we up!"@lbg_nico7 | @HoustonTexans pic.twitter.com/4vruSEVu5R
— NFL (@NFL) September 16, 2024
It was the first time he ever received a game ball before. It likely won't be the last.