Tar Heels in NFL: Carter, Bernard TDs; Holcomb INT; Amazing run by ‘ ’Lil Pinball’ Williams

By R.L. Bynum

The second touchdowns of the season for running backs Michael Carter and Giovani Bernard, a Cole Holcomb interception and another impressive Javonte Williams run highlighted the Week 5 efforts of Tar Heels in the NFL.

Carter started again for the New York Jets (1–4) in their 27–20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in London and scored for the second consecutive game. He ran 10 times for 38 yards, caught all three of the passes targeted to him for 20 yards and played 29 of the Jets’ 56 offensive snaps.

“I love London. I might be back,” said Carter, who scored on a 2-yard fourth-quarter run. “The fans are cool. It feels like the Super Bowl,  everybody just has different jerseys on. It kind of felt like a good atmosphere. Just people from all over the world literally just at the game, and just enjoying football.”


Bernard was questionable with a knee sprain after missing the Tampa Bay Bucs’ Week 4 win at New England but, after practicing fully Friday, played in their 4517 home victory over the Miami Dolphins.

Bernard caught a 10-yard touchdown pass on a short throw up the middle from quarterback Tom Brady in the first quarter for the Bucs’ first touchdown of the game. Bernard flipped over Miami safety Jevon Holland at the goal line to get the score.

Bernard got his first four runs of the season for 21 yards, including a 17-yard run through the right side of the line in the fourth quarter with Blaine Gabbert in at QB for Tampa Bay (4–1).

For the Dolphins (1–4), Mack Hollins was targeted on passes for the first time this season. On two targets, he caught one pass for 10 yards and also had a special-teams tackle.


Williams’ Denver Broncos (3–2) lost their second consecutive game after winning their first three, falling at Pittsburgh 27–19, but he added another amazing run and is now known in the Mile High City as “ ’Lil Pinball.”

He took a pitch to the left from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, sped between two Steelers defenders and ran 49 yards before being caught at the Pittsburgh 2.

He drew a delay-of-game penalty when he spiked the ball after the play. He said after the game that he forgot that this was a point of emphasis and spiked it because he was mad that he didn’t score.

Williams finished with 61 yards on eight rushes and caught all three passes targeted to him, collecting 25 reception yards.

Former Alabama running back Najee Harris of Pittsburgh won the battle of the league’s top rookie rushers over Williams but had nearly three times as many opportunities, collecting 122 yards and a touchdown on 23 rushes.

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Zach Gentry started ahead of Eric Ebron at tight end for the Steelers (2–3). Ebron caught both passes targeted to him for 10 yards.


In Washington’s 3322 home loss to New Orleans, Holcomb, linebacker, intercepted a Jameis Winston pass on the fifth play of the game. Holcomb returned it 23 yards to set up a 45-yard Dustin Hopkins field goal.

Holcomb also had three tackles and four assists in the loss for Washington (2–3) while playing all 56 defensive snaps.

Washington wide receiver Dyami Brown missed the game with a knee injury.

Left tackle James Hurst started his second consecutive game for the Saints (3–2), playing all 56 offensive snaps in addition to five special-teams snaps.


Linebacker Robert Quinn had three tackles in the Chicago Bears’ 20–9 road victory over the Los Angeles Raiders to move to 3–2.


Right tackle Charlie Heck started his first game of the season for the Houston Texans in their 25–22 home win over the New England Patriots after Marcus Cannon was sidelined with a back injury.

Heck played all 59 offensive snaps and five (19%) special-teams snaps. It was only the third game this season for Heck, who had only played two offensive snaps before this week. He has battled back after testing positive for COVID-19 in September.

It was the first win of the season for the 1–4 Texans.


In the Buffalo Bills’ 38–28 Sunday night victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky didn’t play. Andre Smith played 19 special-teams snaps and recovered a teammate’s fumble on a kickoff return for the Bills (4–1).

How Tar Heels did in Week 5

Giovani Bernard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
45–17 win vs. Miami — 4 rushes, 21 yards (17 longest); 2 catches on 2 targets for 14 yards (10 longest), 1 TD; played 17 offensive snaps (23%) and 4 special-teams snaps (14%)
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 rushes, 21 yards; 15 catches, 93 yards (6.2 average, longest 32 yards), 2 TDs, 1 fumble
Up next — at Philadelphia, 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Fox (WRAZ in Triangle), NFL Network
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Dyami Brown, Washington wide receiver
33–22 loss vs. New Orleans —
Missed game with knee injury
Season statistics — 4 games, 5 receptions on 14 targets, 51 yards (10.2 average, longest 22 yards); 1 rush for -4 yards
Up next —
vs. Kansas City, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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Michael Carter, New York Jets running back
27–20 loss vs. Atlanta in London — Started; 10 rushes, 38 yards (longest 9 yards), 1 TDs; 3 catches on 3 targets for 20 yards (longest 14 yards); played 29 of 56 offensive snaps (52%)
Season statistics — 5 games, 47 carries, 165 yards (3.5 average, longest 14 yards), 2 TD; 9 receptions, 64 yards (7.1 average)
Up next —
(off next weekend) at New England, Sunday, Oct. 24, 1 p.m., CBS
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Eric Ebron, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
27–19
win vs. Denver — Didn’t start; 2 catches on 2 targets for 10 yards (5 longest); played 25 offensive snaps (38%)
Season statistics — 5 games, 5 reception, 37 yards (7.4 average, longest 19)
Up next —
vs. Seattle, 8:20 p.m. Sunday, NBC (WRAL in Triangle)
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Charlie Heck, Houston Texans right tackle
25–22 loss vs. New England —
Started; played all 59 offensive snaps and 5 (19%) special-teams snaps
Season statistics — 3 games, 1 start; 61 offensive snaps, 8 special-teams snaps
Up next —
at Indianapolis, 1 p.m., CBS
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Cole Holcomb, Washington outside linebacker
33–22 loss vs. New Orleans —
Started; 3 tackles, 4 assists, 1 interception (returned 23 yards); played all 56 defensive snaps
Season statistics — 5 games, 28 tackles, 20 assists, 2 tackles for losses, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception
Up next —
vs. Kansas City, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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Mack Hollins, Miami Dolphins wide receiver
45–17 loss at Tampa Bay —
1 catch on 2 targets for 10 yards; 1 special-teams tackle; played 14 offensive snaps (26%) and 16 special-teams snaps (57%)
Season statistics — 5 games, 1 catch, 10 yards; 1 special-teams tackle
Up next —
vs. Jacksonville in London, 9:30 a.m. Sunday, CBS (WNCN in Triangle)
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James Hurst, New Orleans Saints left tackle
33–22 win at Washington —
Started; played all 56 offensive snaps and 5 (17%) special-teams snaps
Season statistics — 5 games; 2 starts; 137 snaps, 18 special-teams snaps
Up next —
(off next weekend) at Seattle, 8:15 p.m., Monday, Oct. 25, ESPN
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Robert Quinn, Chicago Bears outside linebacker
20–9 win at Los Angeles Raiders — Started; 3 tackles; played 48 defensive snaps (72%)
Season statistics — 5 games, 12 tackles, 3 assists, 4.5 sacks, 2 tackles for losses, 2 QB hits, 1 forced fumble
Up next —
vs. Green Bay, 1 p.m., Fox
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Andre Smith, Buffalo Bills weakside linebacker
38–20 win at Kansas City —
Recovered teammate’s fumble on a kickoff return; played 19 special-teams snaps (66%)
Season statistics —
3 games, 2 special-teams tackles, 1 special-teams assist
Up next —
at Tennessee, 8:15 p.m. Monday, ESPN
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M.J. Stewart Jr., Cleveland Browns strong safety
47–42 loss at Los Angeles Chargers —
No statistics; played 7 defensive snaps (9%) and 18 special-teams snaps (56%)
Season statistics — 5 games, 8 tackles, 3 assists, 2 special-teams tackle
Up next — vs. Arizona, 4:05 p.m. Sunday, CBS
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Chazz Surratt, Minnesota Vikings weakside linebacker
19–17 win vs. Detroit —
No statistics; played 8 special-teams snaps (31%)
Season statistics — 4 games, no statistics
Up next — at Carolina, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox (WRAZ in Triangle)
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Mitchell Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
38–20 win at Kansas City —
Did not play
Season statistics —
2 games; 2 of 2 passing for 9 yards (longest 8); 10 rushes for 27 yards (longest 22), 85.4 passer rating
Up next —
at Tennessee, 8:15 p.m. Monday, ESPN
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Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back
27–19 loss at Pittsburgh —
8 rushes, 61 yards (longest 49); 3 catches on 3 targets for 25 yards (longest 10); played 25 offensive snaps (42%)
Season statistics — 5 games, 54 carries, 247 yards (4.6 average; longest 49 yards), 1 TD; 11 catches, 75 yards (6.8 average, longest 17 yards)
Up next — vs. Las Vegas, 4:25 p.m. Sunday, Fox
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Tar Heels on practice squads
Jake Bargas, Minnesota Vikings fullback
Myles Dorn, Minnesota Vikings safety (played 10 special-teams snaps on Week 2)
Dazz Newsome, Chicago Bears wide receiver
Antonio Williams, Buffalo Bills running back
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Injured Tar Heels
Jalen Dalton, New Orleans Saints defensive tackle, suffered season-ending triceps injury
Ryan Switzer, Cleveland Browns wide receiver, had ankle surgery Aug. 20
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