In a win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, former Michigan Football WR Nico Collins topped the 1,000-yard season total for the third season in a row:
There’s only three weeks left until the NFL playoffs, as several teams are scrambling to keep their postseason hopes alive. Lots of former Wolverines are standing out to help their respective teams in these key December games.
Let’s kick off Week 15’s Pro Blue recap with a wide receiver on pace to earn back-to-back Pro Bowl bids.
Nico Collins scores twice, tops 1,000 yards for third straight season
In a 40-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins had one of his best games of the season. He scored multiple times in the same game for the first time this season, to go along with 85 receiving yards on three catches.
He also topped a key milestone on his second touchdown.
On that second touchdown, Collins topped 1,000 yards for the third season in a row. He’s just the third wide receiver to do that in Texans history, joining Andre Johnson (2008-10) and DeAndre Hopkins (2017-19).
Collins has made a great case to make the Pro Bowl for the second season in a row. His 1,001 yards through 15 games rank seventh in the NFL and second in the AFC behind Ja’Marr Chase.
The Texans are 9-5 and have a 95 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to ESPN. It sounds like there’s a good chance we get to watch Collins ball out in the playoffs.
In that same game, Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson made four tackles and was credited for a pass defensed.
Brandon Graham has still got it
In his sixth game since coming out of retirement in mid-November, veteran Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham made his presence felt in a blowout win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Graham was able to sack Kenny Pickett twice for his first two sacks since returning to Philly.
Graham now has 78.5 sacks in 212 games across parts of 16 seasons, and he’s expected to be a key rotational piece for the Eagles in the playoffs.
Blake Corum keeps making an impact
The Los Angeles Rams currently have the top seed in the NFC, and running back Blake Corum has played in a role in L.A.’s success.
In a win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Corum rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, using his signature jump cut to score late in the third quarter.
Corum has been incredibly efficient as of late. As Sosa Kremenjas with Underdog pointed out, Corum is averaging more than nine yards per carry the last three weeks, better than any running back in football.
Corum now has 621 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the season as his role continues to grow. If you have him in your fantasy football playoffs, you likely moved on to the next round.
In that same game, Josiah Stewart got credited with two tackles for the Rams, and Aidan Hutchinson had a first-quarter interception he nearly took to the house, along with three tackles and one sack.
Other notable performances
-In a win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy completed 15 of his 24 passes for 250 yards, three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) and an interception. This was his third game with three touchdowns of that variety; per OptaStats, he’s the first quarterback to do that three times in his first eight starts. Perhaps he’s not a bust after all.
In that same game, Vikings safety Josh Metellus made seven tackles, and Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker caught a pass for 29 yards.
-In a win over the New York Giants, Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil had an interception.
Sainristil, who now has four picks this season and six in his NFL career, also had three tackles in the game. In that same game, Commanders kicker Jake Moody made all three field goals, including a long of 46 yards.
-In a blowout loss to the Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush had two tackles.
-In the Baltimore Ravens’ win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Ravens linebacker David Ojabo and Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II each had two tackles.
-In a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna had a tackle.
-In a loss to the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary recorded three tackles and a quarterback hit.
-In a win over grandfather Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet had eight carries for 31 yards, and tight end A.J. Barner had three catches for 27 yards. In that same game, defensive end Kwity Paye had a tackle for the Colts.
Category: General Sports
