By R.L. Bynum
Critics have targeted the Chicago Bears ever since they selected Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky with the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft ahead of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson.
That criticism has been valid. But, for one Sunday, Trubisky looked better than both of those other 2017 picks as he outplayed Watson in the Bears’ 36–7 victory over the Houston Texans.
Trubisky was 24 of 33 for 267 yards for three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 126.7 passer rating. Watson was 21 of 30 for 219 yards and one touchdown and a 101.9 passer rating and was sacked six times. Trubisky has a better winning percentage as a starting quarterback at 57.4% (27–20) than Watson at 56.0% (28–22).
Meanwhile in Miami Gardens, Fla., Mahomes was 24 of 34 for two touchdowns, three interceptions and a 91.9 passer rating in the Chiefs’ 33–27 win over the Miami Dolphins.
It was Trubisky’s highest passer rating since a 118.1 rating when he connected on 29 of 38 passes for three touchdowns and one interception in the Bears’ 24–20 victory at Detroit on Nov. 28, 2019.
In the last three games, Trubisky has thrown for 776 yards and seven touchdowns with two interceptions and a 103.2 passer rating.
Linebacker Cole Holcomb had another good game in Washington’s 23-15 road victory over San Francisco with five tackles and three assists.
In the Dolphins’ loss to the Chiefs, wide receiver Mack Hollins had his most productive game of the season five catches on nine targets for 66 yards. Last week, Hollins was nominated to the Pro Bowl for special teams.
On Monday, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed tight end Bug Howard to their practice squad.
How Tar Heels fared in Week 14
| Player | Position, team, roster status | Season statistics |
| Mitch Trubisky | QB, Bears, active | |
| 36-7 win vs Houston | Started; 24-33-0 3 TDs 267 yards,126.7 rating; 4 rushes for 23 yards | 101-165-5, 13 TDs, 5 INTs; 19 rushes for 133 yards |
| Eric Ebron | TE, Steelers active | |
| 26-15 loss at Buffalo | Didn’t start; 2 catches on 5 targets, 30 yards; 1 2-pt. conv. catch | 51 catches for 511 yards and 4 TDs |
| Gio Bernard | RB, Bengals, active | |
| 30-7 loss vs. Dallas | Started; 3 carries for 8 yards; 3 catches on 3 targets for 15 yards | 80 rushes, 261 yards, 2 TDs; 39 catches, 275 yards, 2 TDs |
| Cole Holcomb | LB, Washington, active | |
| 23-15 win at SF | Started; 5 tackles, 3 assists | 31 tackles, 21 assists, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF |
| James Hurst | OL, Saints, active | |
| 24-21 loss at Phila. | Didn’t start; played 4 offensive snaps and 5 special-teams snaps | Played in 9 games |
| Mack Hollins | WR, Dolphins, active | |
| 33-27 loss vs. KC | 5 catches on 9 targets for 66 yards | 11 receptions for 113 yards and a TD; 1 tackle, 2 assists, |
| M.J. Stewart | CB, Browns, active | |
| 47-42 loss vs. Balt. | 3 tackles, 1 assist, 2 penalties; played 33 (55%) of defensive snaps | 15 tackles, 3 assists, 1 interception, 1 sack |
| Robert Quinn | LB, Bears, active | |
| 36-7 win vs Houston | Started; played 39 (59% of the) defense snaps | 10 tackles, 4 assists, 1 sack |
| Tre Boston | FS, Panthers, active | |
| 32-27 loss vs. Denver | Started; 4 tackles, 2 assists | 46 tackles, 25 assists |
| Andre Smith | LB, Bills, active | |
| 26-15 win vs. Pitt | Didn’t start; played 21 (75%) of the defensive snaps | 3 tackles, 1 special teams tackle |
| Aaron Crawford | DT, Ravens, practice squad | |
| 47-42 win at Cleveland | 1 assist | |
| Jason Strowbridge | DE, Dolphins, active | |
| 33-27 loss vs. KC | Didn’t start; played 1 defensive snap and 3 special-team snaps | 1 tackle, 2 assists |
| Charlie Heck | OT, Texans, active | |
| 36-7 loss at Chicago | Not active for the game | Has played in 1 game. |
| Sylvester Williams | DT, Broncos, active | |
| 32-17 win at Carolina | Not active for this game | 3 tackle; 5 assists; 1 tackle on 2-point conversion attempt |
| Ryan Switzer | WR, Browns, practice squad | |
| Kareem Martin | OLB, Lions, practice squad | |
| William Sweet | OT, 49ers, practice squad | |
| T.J. Logan | RB, Bucs, IR (out for season with leg injury) | |
| Myles Dorn | FS, Vikings, IR | |
| Jalen Dalton | DT, Saints, IR | |
| Russell Bodine | C, Lions, opted out of season |
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