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OWINGS MILLS Vontae Davis Jersey , Md. (AP) — Alex Collins enters this season looking to gain 1,000 yards, enhance his stature among NFL running backs and help the Ravens reach the postseason for the first time since 2014.

These goals are far more ambitious than his singular objective of a year ago, which was simply to earn a place on Baltimore’s 53-man roster.

After being waived by Seattle early last September, Collins was signed to the Ravens practice squad. He was activated in Week 2 and thrust into the starting lineup on Oct. 1.

Collins finished with 973 yards rushing — ranking ninth in the NFL with a 4.6-yard average — and caught 23 passes for 187 yards.

If he can come up with a sufficient encore in 2018, then perhaps Collins will no longer feel underappreciated.

“I feel like I’ve been overlooked my entire career, throughout college and at this level,” Collins said. “But I’d rather show them on the field why I’m overlooked than run my mouth talking about it.”

At Arkansas, Collins became only the third player in the history of the Southeastern Conference to open his career with three successive 1,000-yard seasons. Yet, he wasn’t selected until the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft.

Collins rushed for 125 yards in his rookie season, not enough to convince Seattle to keep him for another season.

He finally made some noise with Baltimore last year Devonta Freeman Jersey , though not quite enough to get him the acclaim many believe he deserves.

“I definitely think he’s underrated, but it’s probably due to the fact that he’s only played one real year,” Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said. “After this year, I’m not sure he’ll still be underrated.”

Collins certainly isn’t underappreciated by the Ravens.

“In my mind, he’s a veteran back. He’s been there before and has a lot to prove,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He still has a little bit of a chip on his shoulder; I’m looking forward to seeing how he plays.”

Collins does not like talking about himself. He was scheduled to meet with the local media on Wednesday to preview Baltimore’s opener against Buffalo, but was nowhere to be found when it was his turn to step up to the podium.

Long after most of the cameramen and reporters departed, Collins finally spoke in the hallway outside the locker room.

It’s been a quiet summer for the 5-foot-10, 208-pound Collins, who carried only three times during the preseason in the only game he played.

“There’s an expectation at the end of that,” he said. “They took care of me in the preseason, so I feel like it’s my responsibility to take care of them in the regular season. I’m going to show them that I can carry that load. I’m ready to take on that pounding.”

It sure beats being a member of the practice squad.

“I’m thankful for the position I’m in Montee Ball Jersey , from last year to this year,” Collins said. “But at the same time, I’m trying to go above and beyond what I did last year. I have the motivation.”

Collins twice ran for 100 yards last season and probably would have topped 1,000 yards if he played in all 16 games instead of 15. He expects to reach four digits in yards this time around.

“That’s something I’m trying hard to achieve. At the same time, I still have other goals that trump that,” he said. “I’m going to help the team first. I’ll worry about my personal goals after that.”

Browns tie! Browns tie! Browns tie!

It’s not a win, but Cleveland will take it after going 0-16 last year and 1-15 in 2016.

The Browns rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the rival Steelers and snapped a 17-game losing streak with a 21-21 result that left fans celebrating in the rain. They had a chance to win the game, but Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt blocked Zane Gonzalez’s 43-yard field-goal attempt with 9 seconds left in overtime.

For a while, it seemed the Steelers would cruise to another easy win over the Browns even without Le’Veon Bell. The All-Pro running back is still holding out over a bitter contract dispute, causing some animosity among his teammates. Backup James Conner had 135 yards rushing and two touchdowns and caught five passes for 57 yards. But Ben Roethlisberger threw three interceptions and fumbled twice, and Conner’s fumble in the fourth quarter helped the Browns rally.

Conner, a star at Pitt who became a city favorite while recovering from a cancer diagnosis in November 2015 Matt Judon Jersey , may have cost Bell some leverage with his strong performance.

Tyrod Taylor’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Josh Gordon sent it to overtime, and neither team could find a way to win it on a wet, sloppy field.

In case you missed it, here are the other top topics after the NFL season’s opening Sunday:

BREATHE EASY, WISCONSIN: Aaron Rodgers returned in the second half after being carted off the field with a knee injury and led the Packers back from a 20-0 deficit to a 24-23 win over the Bears. Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, including a 75-yarder to Randall Cobb with 2:13 left in the game. The stadium fell silent and everyone in Green Bay panicked when Rodgers went down. The Packers missed the playoffs after losing Rodgers last season and are 6-10-1 without him since 2013. Backup DeShone Kizer threw a pick six to Khalil Mack, who disappeared in the second half after a dominant start in his first game for Chicago.

BIG PLAY BUCS: Ryan Fitzpatrick had a 417-yard, four-touchdown performance filling in for the suspended Jameis Winston in a 48-40 upset at New Orleans. Fitzpatrick threw touchdown passes of 50 yards to Mike Evans and 58 and 36 yards to DeSean Jackson. The Buccaneers had 529 total yards against the Saints, who countered with 475. Tampa Bay, coming off a 5-11 season, was the biggest underdog of the weekend at 9 1/2 points.

BECKHAM IS BACK: Odell Beckham Jr. had 11 catches for 111 yards and drew two pass interference penalties on the same drive in his first game since last October following ankle surgery. Beckham won the 1-on-1 battle against outspoken All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, but the New York Giants lost the game. The Jaguars got a pick six by Myles Jack in a 20-15 victory on the road.

PHILLY PHILLY: Needing a spark for his sputtering offense Kurt Coleman Jersey , Eagles coach Doug Pederson turned to a familiar trick play in the third quarter of Philadelphia’s 18-12 victory over Atlanta on Thursday night. Quarterback Nick Foles caught a 15-yard pass from wide receiver Nelson Agholor to extend a drive that ended with a touchdown. Foles caught a 1-yard TD pass from tight end Trey Burton in the first half of Philadelphia’s 41-33 win over New England in the Super Bowl. That play was called “Philly Special.” This one was “Philly Philly.” Pederson used the same personnel group, but a different formation this time around.

NATIONAL ANTHEM: Miami Dolphins receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson were the only two players to kneel during the national anthem opening weekend. Colin Kaepernick called them “brothers” and thanked them on social media. Dolphins teammate Robert Quinn raised his fist. Niners receiver Marquise Goodwin did the same at San Francisco’s game at Minnesota. Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas and linebacker Brandon Marshall, and Seahawks linemen Duane Brown and Quinton Jefferson, retreated to their respective tunnels while the anthem played. In Los Angeles, Chargers left tackle Russell Okung raised his fist.

TROLLING THE BOYS: Former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant had fun taking shots at his old team during an 18-6 loss at Carolina. Bryant wrote on Twitter: “It’s kind of cool calling out all of the signals and knowing which route players are about run.” He engaged with fans, suggested he’d have success in New England or Washington and said he didn’t think Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanted him out of Dallas.

JIMMY GAROPPO(NOOOOO): Playing his first game since signing his megadeal with San Francisco following seven career starts, Jimmy Garoppolo didn’t look like a $137.5 million quarterback. He tossed three interceptions in a 24-16 loss to Minnesota, including a pick six. Garoppolo was 2-0 as a starter for the Patriots in 2016 and 5-0 for the 49ers last year.

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