Nate Wiggins's welcome-to-the-NFL moment last week in Dallas was nothing compared to what he faced the week before.
The Ravens' rookie cornerback spoke for the first time Thursday about the car accident that he got into earlier this month, which sidelined him for Baltimore's Week 2 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
"I was driving and an 18-wheeler clipped me out the road and my car flipped," Wiggins said. "It was scary. It's always scary to get in a car accident."
Wiggins was listed with a neck injury and went through the concussion protocol last week.
"Once I knew I could get back on the field, I knew I was 100%," Wiggins said. "Everybody was happy with me. I was happy about it."
Wiggins played nearly 50% of the defense snaps (38 total) in Dallas, a sharp increase from his first game against the Kansas City Chiefs, in which he saw 31% of the action.
The rookie also got his first taste of one of the NFL's best receivers in CeeDee Lamb. Lamb caught three passes on three targets for 58 yards. Even though Wiggins punched one of them out for a key red-zone fumble, he still yielded more than he would've liked.
Overall, Pro Football Focus said Wiggins gave up four catches for 82 yards on five targets, and he was also flagged twice for pass interference, though one was negated by a Cowboys penalty.
"My mindset going into the game every week is I've got to shut the receiver down, no matter who it is," Wiggins said. "I think I can guard anybody in this league. I don't think nobody can run past me. That's what I take my confidence in."
What gave Wiggins trouble wasn't the Cowboys' speed, but rather they beat him a couple times inside with slants. Wiggins said one takeaway was that he has to be more physical in press coverage on the line of scrimmage.
"I've just got to keep working," Wiggins said. "I think it was a learning experience. I just get better from that."
Ravens Want to 'Pack the Paint' on Pass Defense
Allowing passes to be completed in the middle of the field has been an issue for the Ravens, and one they are determined to correct.
All three quarterbacks the Ravens have faced enjoyed huge success completing passes between the numbers. Patrick Mahomes was 14-of-17 for 201 yards when throwing there in Week 1. Gardner Minshew was 15-for-17 for 119 yards and a touchdown and an interception in Week 2. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott finished 17-for-26 for 263 yards and a touchdown between the hashes in Week 3.
Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr discussed why defending the middle has been an issue, and how to solve it.
"We've got to play some techniques better, we've got to coach some techniques better," Orr said. "The middle of the field is the easier part for the quarterback to complete a pass. We want to pack the paint. We haven't done a good enough job of doing that this year.
"We have to protect the middle of the field, make the quarterbacks throw outside and take our chances with that."
Orr said it will take all three levels of the defense, and the coaching staff, to make the middle of the field less vulnerable.
"It's not just the linebackers, it's not just the DB's," Orr said. "A lot of times it's the calls as well. We're all trying to collaborate to make this thing right."
Daniel Faalele Has More Confidence and Bigger Challenge
Reporters' questions have changed for Daniel Faalele this week after he helped the Ravens run over the Cowboys.
Faalele said it "definitely" feels different for him mentally, but he's not letting last week's game gas him up.
"I just want to keep getting better," he said. "I just have a lot more confidence in myself. I need to keep going, keep stacking."
The Bills have talented pass rushers in eight-time Pro Bowler Von Miller, who has three sacks already this season, and Greg Rousseau. Buffalo also has one of the most physical defensive linemen in football in Ed Oliver
"He's really explosive, a really good player," Faalele said of Oliver. "It will be a good challenge. For me, it's trust my technique, trust in what's being coached, and get the job done."
Orr Likes Eddie Jackson, Ar'Darius Washington in Heavy Coverage Schemes
Orr is taking advantage of the Ravens' secondary depth by using Eddie Jackson and Ar'Darius Washinton in nickel and dime packages.
Jackson played 57% of the defensive snaps against Dallas in Week 3, while Washington played 42%. Brandon Stephens and Marcus Williams played every snap, while Hamilton (99%) and Marlon Humphrey (96%) rarely came off the field.
The Ravens' coverage schemes will change from week to week, and their depth gives them more leeway to change up looks.
"The Cowboys had shown a lot of four wides on film – they spread the ball out and throw the ball," Orr said. "A.D., Eddie Jackson, these guys are real good football players. It would be kind of criminal to keep those guys on the sideline the whole time."
