By R.L. Bynum
Quarterback Mitch Trubisky may not have been dazzling in his first start for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he came up with two big throws in their game-winning overtime drive to make it a successful day.
Trubisky, who said winning his first game with his new team “means a lot,” completed 21 of 38 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown and didn’t throw an interception in Pittsburgh’s wild 23–20 overtime victory Sunday in Cincinnati.
“That was pretty crazy,” Trubisky said of the game. “I mean, just the back and forth. You just feel like we could be better situationally and even better on offense just to put it away. We found out a lot about this team and the way we battled and stuck together. It wasn’t ideal and we’ve got a lot to clean up but, we found a way at the end and winning is fun.”
In overtime, he scrambled, threw across his body and completed a 26-yard pass to Pat Freiemuth on a third-and-one at the Steelers 20 with 34 seconds remaining. He knew it would be a free play after seeing a Bengals player jump offside.
“Just trying to scramble around to make a play,” said Trubisky, who was only sacked once. “I didn’t see the flag on the ground but I had a pretty good idea that it was going to be a free play, so I just scrambled around and found Pat, and he made a heck of a play not quitting on it. Just a little scramble drill, so it was a great play by him and heads up by everybody continuing to play.”
A 10-yard pass to Freiemuth set up Chris Boswell’s game-ending 53-yard field goal with five seconds left in overtime. Trubisky drove the Steelers 45 yards in 56 seconds.
“He did not blink,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of Trubisky. “Made the necessary plays in the weighty moments. I’m appreciative of his efforts.”
Trubisky said the Steelers weren’t even thinking about being conservative and settling for a tie after the Bengals punted.
“We were playing to win,” Trubisky said. “It was like, ‘hey, we got another chance, let’s go make the most of it.’ Me being smart, I wanted to take care of the football, but we’re also trying to win. Didn’t want to end in a tie.”
Trubisky, in the first Steelers game since Ben Roethlisberger retired, played the entire game with his backup, first-round pick Kenny Pickett, watching from the sideline.
“We battled,” Trubisky said. “I mean, we made the plays when we needed to on offense and the defense absolutely balled today with those turnovers. So, we’ve just got to go back to the drawing board and do our part. But we win and lose as a team together and today we found a way to win.”
Trubisky said that he has plenty of room to improve.
“Just finding more completions, connecting down the field and then just continue to get the ball out to take care of the O-line,” he said. “So, I think that I could be smarter when I use my legs to even pick up more yards in different situations. We’ve got to be better on third down for sure. The third down is the money down for the quarterback so you’ve got to stay on the field to keep the defense off, give them a break continue to find ways to score points. So, I can do better in every aspect.”
The season started out well for New York Jets running back Michael Carter, who ran for 19 yards around the left end on the game’s first play. Although he gained 100 total yards, it was ultimately a frustrating day as the Jets lost 24–9 at home to the Baltimore Ravens.
“It was frustrating because we weren’t finishing our offense,” said Carter, noting that the Jets defense forced Baltimore to go three-and-out several times. “I think it’s very important to keep holding people accountable. I hold myself accountable personally. At the end of the day, there are things that you want back. We did some good stuff today. We made some plays, but we’ve got to finish.”
Carter started and rushed for 60 yards on 10 carries in addition to pulling down seven catches on nine targets for 40 yards. He was responsible for two of the Jets’ three longest plays, a 22-yard second-quarter run up the middle and a 19-yard first-quarter run around the left end.
The Ravens led 10–3 at halftime and 24–3 entering the final quarter.
“I think we got out of our rhythm when we were playing from behind,” said Carter, who dropped a potential touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Flacco on fourth-and-goal at the Raven 6 with 4:22 left.
In Monday night’s Denver 17–16 Monday night loss at Seattle, Javonte Williams did well when he got the chance but didn’t get enough of them.
Williams started ahead of Melvin Gordon III but got fewer carries and ended up with 108 total yards with 43 yards on seven carries and 65 yards on 11 receptions.
Go here for more details on his game.
Linebacker Cole Holcomb had two tackles and three assists in the Washington Commanders’ 28–22 home victory over Jacksonville. Wide receiver Dyami Brown played but had no statistics and rookie quarterback Sam Howell wasn’t active for the game.
Defensive end Robert Quinn had a quiet day in the Chicago Bears’ 19–10 home victory over San Francisco, with one tackle and one assist.
“We only gave up 10 points, so that’s pretty good,” Quinn said.
Offensive linemen Charlie Heck and James Hurst both started. Heck, who reported as tackle-eligible five times, started as the sixth offensive lineman in the Houston Texans’ home 20–20 overtime tie with the Indianapolis Colts but played only those five offensive snaps. Hurst played all 61 offensive snaps at left tackle in the New Orleans Saints’ 27–26 victory at Atlanta.
M.J. Stewart Jr., in his first game for Houston, made two special-teams tackles and only played on special teams, getting in for 26 snaps.
Mack Hollins started and made the catch for 16 yards on the only pass targeted for him in the Las Vegas Raiders’ 24–19 road loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He played 51 offensive snaps (88%).
In the New York Giants’ 21–20 win at Tennessee, rookie Tomon Fox had one tackle, one sack and hurried the quarterback once in 27 defensive snaps.
Rookie Joshua Ezeudu, who played 28 offensive snaps, played left guard off the bench and had a big block on one of a Saquon Barkley touchdown run but also got beat to allow a sack.
Giants running back Antonio Williams wasn’t active for the game.
Minnesota running back Ty Chandler wasn’t active for the Vikings’ 23-7 home win over Green Bay. The Vikings elevated defensive back Myles Dorn from the practice squad before the game and he notched one special-teams assist in nine special-teams snaps.
Gio Bernard had no statistics while only playing six special-teams snaps during Tampa Bay’s 19-3 victory at Dallas.
Giovani Bernard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
19–3 win at Dallas — No statistics; 6 special-teams snaps
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at New Orleans, Fox
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Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
28–22 win vs. Jacksonville — No statistics; 3 offensive snaps (4%), 5 special-teams snaps (12%)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Detroit, Fox
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Michael Carter, New York Jets running back
24–9 loss vs. Baltimore— Started; 10 carries, 60 yards (22 longest); 7 catches on 9 targets, 40 yards (11 longest); had two of Jets longest three plays; 17.0 fantasy points; 50 offensive snaps (60%)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cleveland, CBS
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Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back
23–7 win vs. Green Bay — Inactive for game
Up next — 8:30 Monday at Philadelphia, ABC
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Myles Dorn, Minnesota Vikings defensive back
23–7 win vs. Green Bay — One special-teams assist; 9 special-teams snaps (39%)
Up next — 8:30 Monday at Philadelphia, ABC
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Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants offensive lineman
21–20 win at Tennessee — Played left guard off the bench; 28 offensive snaps (47%), 2 special-teams snaps (7%)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Carolina, Fox
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Tomon Fox, New York Giants linebacker
21–20 win at Tennessee — 1 tackle, 1 sack, 1 QB hit; 27 defensive snaps (42%), 5 special-teams snaps (18%)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Carolina, Fox
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Charlie Heck, Houston Texans left tackle
20–20 OT tie vs. Indianapolis — Started; reported tackle-eligible five times; 5 offensive snaps (7%), 4 special-teams snaps (12%)
Up next — 4:25 p.m. Sunday at Denver, CBS
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Cole Holcomb, Washington Commanders linebacker
28–22 win vs. Jacksonville — Started; 2 tackles, 3 assists; 3.5 fantasy points; 70 defensive snaps (100%)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Detroit, Fox
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Mack Hollins, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
24–19 loss at Los Angeles Chargers — Started; 1 catch on 1 target for 16 yards; 2.6 fantasy points; 51 offensive snaps (88%), 6 special-teams snaps (25%)
Up next — 4:25 p.m. Sunday vs. Arizona, CBS
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Sam Howell, Washington Commanders quarterback
28–22 win vs. Jacksonville — Not active for the game
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Detroit, Fox
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James Hurst, New Orleans Saints tackle
27–26 win at Atlanta— Started at left tackle; 61 offensive snaps (100%), 4 special-teams snaps (12%)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Tampa Bay, Fox
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Robert Quinn, Chicago Bears defensive end
19–10 win vs. San Francisco — Started; 1 tackle, 1 assist; 1.5 fantasy points; 49 defensive snaps (72%), 3 special-teams snaps (12%)
Up next — 8:20 p.m. Sunday at Green Bay, NBC
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M.J. Stewart Jr., Houston Texans safety
20–20 OT tie vs. Indianapolis — 2 special-teams tackles; 2.0 fantasy points; 26 special-teams snaps (81%)
Up next — 4:25 p.m. Sunday at Denver, CBS
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Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
23–20 OT win at Cincinnati — Started; 21 of 38, 194 yards (32 longest), 1 TD, 0 INTs, 1 sack, 78.2 passer rating; 3 rushes, 9 yards (6 longest); passed on six of Steelers’ nine longest plays; 12.66 fantasy points; 63 offensive snaps (100%)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New England, CBS
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Antonio Williams, New York Giants running back
21–20 win at Tennessee — Inactive for game
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, Fox
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Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back
17–16 loss at Seattle — Started; 7 carries, 43 yards (13 longest); 11 catches on 12 targets for 65 yards (13 longest); 8.8 fantasy points; 38 snaps (58%)
Up next — 4:25 p.m. Sunday vs. Houston, CBS
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Suspended (violating performance-enhancing substance policy)
Linebacker Andre Smith, Buffalo (first game will be Sunday, Oct. 30 vs. Green Bay)
On practice squads
Cornerback Kyler McMichael, Buffalo
Linebacker Chazz Surratt, New York Jets (released by Minnesota)
Released during camp and unsigned
Fullback Jake Bargas, Chicago (earlier by Minnesota)
Defensive tackle Aaron Crawford, Baltimore
Linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel, Denver (earlier by San Francisco)
Wide receiver Dazz Newsome, Chicago
Wide receiver Austin Proehl, New York Giants
Offensive tackle Jordan Tucker, Pittsburgh
Released from injured reserve with settlements
Defensive lineman Jalen Dalton, Atlanta
Tight end Bug Howard, Tampa Bay
Out for the season
Marcus McKethan, New York Giants guard — suffered torn right ACL in an Aug. 5 scrimmage
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