Backup tackle Anthony Collins blanks All-Pro Julius Peppers

The Chicago bears edged the Cincinnati Bengals in their home-opener, and looking at the final 24-21 score, you’d have thought All-Pro defensive end Julisu Perppers was having a field-day against a banged-up Bengals offensive line.

But that wasn’t the case, as he was blanked from the stat sheet, thanks to the performance of backup left tackle Anthony Collins, who was starting for the first time since the 2011 season, and he filled in admirably. He came into the game looking to show he was more than just backup, as he reportedly asked the coaches not to give him any help against Peppers and even allow him go one-on-one against one of the league’s fiercest pass-rushers.

By the time the game was over, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton had dropped back to throw over 40 times, and Peppers didn’t get a single sack, or even a tackle for that matter.

"“I mean, he’s all-world for a reason,” Collins said in another interview. “He’s Julius Peppers, the $100 million man (Peppers is in a six-year, $84 million contract). You’ve definitely got to game plan with him. You’ve definitely got to be perfect on every play with him because he can change the game. But I came to play, too.”"