Adrian Gonzalez never got to meet his favorite football player, Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins. But when the 12-year-old Houston youngster died in September after a life dealing with cerebral palsy, chronic lung conditions and epilepsy, he was buried wearing the former Clay-Chalkville High School star’s replica NFL jersey.

Before the Texans defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 23-21 on Sunday, which would have been Gonzalez’s 13^th birthday, his family fulfilled his wish for him by meeting Collins at NRG Stadium.

“It was real sad, man,” Collins said on Monday about Gonzalez. “My condolences to him and his family, his loved ones. It means a lot that I was his favorite, him being buried in my jersey, that’s what his mom said. But it’s sad all around, especially for a young kid, him and his family and his loved ones, so my prayers to him and his family forever.”

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Six days after meeting Gonzalez’s family, Collins will be playing to get the Texans into the postseason for the third consecutive season, something that has not happened in the franchise’s history.

If Houston beats the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, the Texans will secure a spot in the AFC playoff field after starting the season with three straight losses. Houston already has double-digit victories in three consecutive seasons for the first time in its history, and another win would be the third season for the Texans with at least 11 victories, joining 2012 and 2018.

“It’s a blessing, man,” Collins said. “You know, just to have 11 wins, starting off slow like we did. It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. And one game at a time, one-and-O, that’s our mindset. And going against L.A., we know what type of team they are, so it’s going to take all of us to come with it. Every single play, every single down, man, just come with it because we know what type of team they are, and in order to get where we need to go, we got to go through them.”

Already with 11 victories, the Chargers will be playing to stay one game behind Denver in the AFC West race after the Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20-13 on Thursday night. If Los Angeles defeats Houston, the Chargers will go into the final Sunday of the regular season with an opportunity to earn a first-round home game in the AFC playoffs as a division winner. Los Angeles plays Denver on Jan. 4 and already owns a 23-20 victory over the Broncos on Sept. 21.

Last season, the Texans defeated the Chargers 32-12 in the first round of the AFC playoffs as Collins caught seven passes for 122 yards and one touchdown.

Collins said he expected a high-intensity game on Saturday, “especially, you know, we beat them last year in the playoffs here. We got to win to get in. To me, I feel like the tensions are high already, you know, so my mindset is not making the moment bigger than what it is. Go out there being us and take it one play at a time.”

Adrian Gonzalez never got to meet his favorite football player, Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins. But when the 12-year-old Houston youngster died in September after a life dealing with cerebral palsy, chronic lung conditions and epilepsy, he was buried wearing the former Clay-Chalkville High School star’s replica NFL jersey.

Before the Texans defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 23-21 on Sunday, which would have been Gonzalez’s 13^th birthday, his family fulfilled his wish for him by meeting Collins at NRG Stadium.

“It was real sad, man,” Collins said on Monday about Gonzalez. “My condolences to him and his family, his loved ones. It means a lot that I was his favorite, him being buried in my jersey, that’s what his mom said. But it’s sad all around, especially for a young kid, him and his family and his loved ones, so my prayers to him and his family forever.”

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Six days after meeting Gonzalez’s family, Collins will be playing to get the Texans into the postseason for the third consecutive season, something that has not happened in the franchise’s history.

If Houston beats the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, the Texans will secure a spot in the AFC playoff field after starting the season with three straight losses. Houston already has double-digit victories in three consecutive seasons for the first time in its history, and another win would be the third season for the Texans with at least 11 victories, joining 2012 and 2018.

“It’s a blessing, man,” Collins said. “You know, just to have 11 wins, starting off slow like we did. It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. And one game at a time, one-and-O, that’s our mindset. And going against L.A., we know what type of team they are, so it’s going to take all of us to come with it. Every single play, every single down, man, just come with it because we know what type of team they are, and in order to get where we need to go, we got to go through them.”

Already with 11 victories, the Chargers will be playing to stay one game behind Denver in the AFC West race after the Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20-13 on Thursday night. If Los Angeles defeats Houston, the Chargers will go into the final Sunday of the regular season with an opportunity to earn a first-round home game in the AFC playoffs as a division winner. Los Angeles plays Denver on Jan. 4 and already owns a 23-20 victory over the Broncos on Sept. 21.

Last season, the Texans defeated the Chargers 32-12 in the first round of the AFC playoffs as Collins caught seven passes for 122 yards and one touchdown.

Collins said he expected a high-intensity game on Saturday, “especially, you know, we beat them last year in the playoffs here. We got to win to get in. To me, I feel like the tensions are high already, you know, so my mindset is not making the moment bigger than what it is. Go out there being us and take it one play at a time.”