Latest news with #AFCDivisionalRound
USA Today
13 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens defense earns elite praise from one of its best players
The Baltimore Ravens defense earns an elite stamp from one of its own. Some lead by example. Some are more vocal. Rare treasures blend both qualities. Baltimore Ravens fans are spoiled in the latter regard. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Terrell Suggs each gave this city and organization a decade-plus of blood, sweat, and tears. They worked together for ten years. Wouldn't you know it? Though the NFL is, more often than not, largely obsessed with offense, for much of the Ravens' history, it's the guys on defense who are the faces of this franchise. Don't get us wrong. This is Lamar Jackson's team now. There is hope he plays for as long as his body will let him, but at M&T Bank Stadium, no one has lost their appreciation for a dominant defense. Mike Macdonald began building something special before leaving to lead the Seattle Seahawks. His replacement, Zach Orr, took over. Things got off to a rougher start than desired, but his unit improved all season until the time ran out in Baltimore's most recent AFC Divisional Round game. Now, in his second season, more pieces have been added to Orr's unit, and excitement is building about how good his team can be. Fans and the media aren't just expressing that excitement. It has sent shockwaves through the locker room where one of Baltimore's best players has an announcement for the rest of the NFL. Roquan Smith offers elite praise for the Ravens' defense A Ravens defense that featured five of Baltimore's 11 Pro Bowlers returns every single one of them during the 2025-26 NFL season. Three of those defenders were also named as All-Pros, including a first-team selection, Roquan Smith. He recently offered his teammates some praise. "This is probably the most talented defense that I've been on." Short, simple, and to the point... Those were the words of one of the Ravens' best defenders as he spoke with media members after the first practice of training camp. His teammate, fellow First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler Marlon Humphrey, intends to keep using Baltimore's earlier-than-desired playoff exits as fuel. Their defensive coordinator, Coach Orr, recently offered a similar theory. "We want to be the most feared unit in the league, and it's time for us to get back to people being scared of playing us, and that's what we want to feel when we're out there. Obviously, (Marlon Humphrey) is out there. We trust him. He feels that way. I feel that way, too, so that's one of our goals this year, to be the most dominant, feared defense in the National Football League. So, let's go do it. It is not just going to happen by us talking about it, we've got to come out here and put the work in, and then when Sunday or gameday comes, we've got to go do it." The message is loud and clear, Coach. And, you're right! Go out and get it done.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Derrick Henry says he's still haunted by dropped pass in divisional playoff loss
Mark Andrews is not the only Baltimore Ravens skill position player with deep regrets from the 2025 AFC Divisional Round loss to the Buffalo Bills. While Andrews' mistake is one that's been covered and discussed in volume (and now sets itself up for a good redemption arc story), Derrick Henry made a mistake that flies under the radar. Yes, Henry also dropped a pass in the 27-25 elimination loss to the Bills, but it's one that few people remember. It feels like Henry is the only one who remembers it, but it's still haunting him right now. It came on the Ravens' very first drive of the game- King Henry was wide open, with tons of daylight in front of him, but he couldn't corral the pass from Lamar Jackson. While it was a bad drop, it ultimately had no real bearing on the game's result, as Rashod Bateman completed the drive with a touchdown catch from Jackson. However, Henry is a perfectionist, and his gaffe is still bothering him six months later. "I still think about the pass I dropped early in that game," Henry said while making at an appearance on NFL Network. Asked how often he thinks about this specific dropped pass, he responded: "All the time; it still makes me cringe." Derrick Henry says he still thinks about the pass he dropped in the #Ravens playoff loss to the #Bills. How often? "All the time. It still makes me cringe."@nflnetwork @BaldyNFL — Bridget Condon (@BridgetCondon_) July 26, 2025 The fact that this mistake bothers him so much reveals a great deal about who he is and what he stands for. Although it didn't significantly impact the game, Henry found his drop unacceptable. This mindset reflects the high-level motivation he possesses. You can see this mindset in his intense workout videos, which go viral every offseason and preseason. Henry is dedicated to being the best. In addition to that, he seems to be a good man off the field as well. Henry has been known to give back to the community.
USA Today
21-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Houston Texans 2025 Schedule
Football season is right around the corner. The Houston Texans are set to begin training camp practices starting this Wednesday, with the chance to claim a third AFC South division title under Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud. The team has three preseason games scheduled for next month. After preseason, Houston will trim its roster down to 53 players by Aug. 26. Following preseason, the Texans will kick off the regular season at SoFi Stadium against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Sept. 7. After reaching the NFL playoffs with back-to-back double-digit win seasons with Stroud, the Texans will be in the spotlight more often this season. Houston has four nationally-televised games this year, including two Monday Night Football games and a rematch of the AFC Divisional Round on Sunday Night Football in December. View the team's complete schedule with dates and times below. Houston Texans 2025 Schedule
USA Today
19-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texans' Nico Collins named to PFF's list for top 10 ‘safety-blanket WRs'
How secure of hands does Houston Texans Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins have as a go-to target for C.J. Stroud? One reporter thinks he's a top 10 option in the passing game entering this fall. Pro Football Focus' Lauren Gray recently compiled a list describing the NFL's best safety blanket pass-catchers. Per the parameters, a security blanket is someone who was their quarterback's top target when blitzed/under pressure. Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London led the way with the 21.1 percent threat rate, while Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers ranked third with a 20 percent threat rate behind Los Angeles Chargers rookie Ladd McConkey. As for Collins, he came in ninth with an 18.4 percent success rate after helping the Texans secure a second AFC South division title in as many seasons. "Collins recorded a league-best 90.9 PFF receiving grade with this quarterback under pressure last season, after securing 29 catches for 411 yards, 18 first downs and a touchdown," Gray wrote. "He ranked third in yards after contact (52) and explosive gains (15) and led the league in yards per route run (2.60). "Few have been greater than Collins in pressured situations over the past two seasons. He ranks in the top five in catches (41) and receiving yards (769) and the top three in first downs (32), explosive gains (24) and yards per route run (2.34). He sports the NFL's second-best pressured PFF receiving grade in that span (90.6)." Collins being a safety blanket for Stroud helped Houston's gunslinger go from a No. 2 overall pick into a top 10 passer with a pair of playoff wins. Even with a hamstring injury that limited him to 12 games, Collins still managed to finish with over 1,000 receiving yards, 68 catches and seven touchdowns. His 83.8 yards per game ranked top five among receivers last fall, though he was averaging 111.4 yards per game over the first four games. Hopefully, Collins can build off his productive pairing with Stroud in Year 3 together while still serving as a safety blanket on a run past the AFC Divisional Round playoffs.
USA Today
17-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
82 days until the Texans' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 82?
82 days until the Texans' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 82? The Houston Texans are less than 100 days away from kicking off the 2025 season in Los Angeles against the Rams at SoFi Stadium and we're counting down the days until a victory ensues on the west coast. Texans Wire will each day tell you which player has worn the number of the day leading up to kickoff and pick the player who ensured the number best during their time at NRG Stadium. As for today, let's take a look at who has won No. 82 since the inaugural season in 2002. Texans players to wear No. 82 No. 82 currently belongs to third-round pick Jaylin Noel, whom the Texans believe can be a quality starting slot option after two promising years at Iowa State. The 5-foot-10 pass-catcher is an explosive athlete who makes up for his overall route-running skills with strength after contact and solid hands. After posting back-to-back 60-plus catch seasons while totaling over 800 receiving yards, Noel's value as a third-round pick might make him a steal in the AFC South for C.J. Stroud and new offensive coordinator Nick Caley. Still, he's yet to play a snap with the Texans, so he can't be the greatest player to ever wear No. 82. Could that change after the 2025 season? Perhaps. Mostly because the list is boring after one other name in the last two decades. WR Jaylin Noel (2025) WR Dionate Johnson (2024) WR Steven Sims (2023-2024) WR Isaiah Coulter (2020) WR Wendall Williams (2016) WR Keshawn Martin (2012-2014) LS Clark Harris (2008) TE Ben Steele (2006) TE Billy Miller (2002-2004) Best Player: Steven Sims Because of a punt return, Sims wins by default. While the Texans fell short in the 2023 AFC Divisional Round matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, Sims gave Houston a chance with his 67-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter. Outside of that, no one has done a thing to warrant consideration. Noel, with multiple touchdown receptions this fall, would qualify for the title after one season.
