By R.L. Bynum
Week 12 of the NFL season started with a frustrating Thanksgiving Day for quarterback Sam Howell and Washington, but wide receiver Josh Downs and running back Javonte Williams helped their teams earn Sunday victories, running back Michael Carter made his Arizona debut and cornerback Mike Hughes started for Atlanta.
Downs had five catches on 13 targets for 43 yards and 10.3 fantasy points in a 27–21 Indianapolis victoy over Tampa Bay to keep the Colts (6–5) in the playoff hunt.
Williams had 18 carries for 65 yards and three catches for six yards in Denver’s 29–12 win over Cleveland for the Broncos’ fifth consecutive victory, moving them to 6–5. Denver is 10–3 when Williams gets at least 14 carries.
Williams, who put up 10.1 fantasy points, suffered a neck sprain during the game but played through it.
Carter had four carries for 19 yards and four catches for 15 yards with 7.4 fantasy points in the Cardinals’ 37–14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He played 27 offensive snaps (38%), running up the middle for two yards on his first Arizona carry.
After not being active the previous week, Carter came into the game as the No. 3 running back behind James Conner and Emari Demercado, with Keaontay Ingram inactive.
Cornerback Mike Hughes started for Atlanta in the Falcons’ 24–15 victory over New Orleans, recording a tackle and an assist in 19 total snaps but suffered a hand injury during the game. Wide receiver Mack Hollins was inactive for the game. James Hurt played all 72 offensive snaps at left guard for the Saints.
Offensive lineman Marcus McKethan played two special-teams snaps for the New York Giants in their 10–7 home win over New England.
Chazz Surratt had one tackle on punt coverage in 15 special-teams snaps in the New York Jets’ 34–13 loss to Miami.
Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky didn’t play in Pittsburgh’s 16–10 win at Cincinnati.
On Monday night, Ty Chandler had four carries for eight yards and two catches for three yards in Minnesota’s 12–10 home loss to Chicago.
On Thanksgiving Day, Sam Howell bounced back from throwing three interceptions the week before with a better game against Washington’s bitter rival, the Dallas Cowboys, but it still resulted in a loss.
Howell didn’t throw a touchdown pass but was 28 of 44 for 300 yards with one interception and a touchdown run in the Commanders’ 45–10 loss Thursday in Dallas for their third consecutive defeat.
In his first game against Dallas since making his NFL debut in Washington’s final game last season, when he led the Commanders to a 26–6 victory, he played particularly well in the first half, connecting on 15 of 21 passes for 159 yards. He engineered a 13-play drive at the end of the first half, scoring on a one-yard touchdown run to cut the Dallas lead to 20–10 at halftime.
Washington drove to the Dallas 39 in the third quarter but failed on a fourth-down try.
“Those things just can’t happen,” Howell said. “From a timing standpoint, obviously, it was a short week. But we can’t make any excuses. Those things can’t happen in a football game. We struggled at times in the short-yardage area in the game. That really hurt us. We struggled to finish drives. We struggled to score points. When you struggle to that against a good football team, it’s hard.”
Howell has had two of his lowest three passer ratings in the last two weeks. After putting up a 62.8 the week before in the 31–19 loss to the New York Giants, his passer rating against Dallas was 74.1. His career-low was 41.5 in the Week 3 37–3 loss to Buffalo.
Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland intercepted a Howell pass with 4:50 left and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown for his NFL-record fifth interception return for a touchdown this season.
Washington’s offensive line again had issues protecting Howell, who Dallas sacked four times for 32 yards.
Dyami Brown was only targeted for one pass and didn’t make the catch.
Cowboys offensive lineman Asim Richards wasn’t active for the game.
Wide receiver Antoine Green was inactive for Detroit’s 29–22 loss Thursday to Green Bay.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 23 | 6–0, 195 | third NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string WR behind Terry McLaurin
45–10 Thursday loss at Dallas — 0 catches on 1 target
Season statistics — 12 games, 1 start; 11 catches, 164 yards (35 longest), 1 TD; 1 rush, 0 yards; 1 assist
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, vs. Miami, Fox
Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals running back
Age 24 | 5–8, 201 | third NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Competing for time with James Conner, Earl Demercado and Keaontay Ingram
37–14 loss vs. Los Angeles Rams — 4 carries, 19 yards, 4.8 average (7 longest); 4 catches on 4 targets, 15 yards, 3.8 average (7 longest), 27 offensive snaps (38%), 7.4 fantasy points
Season statistics — 10 games, 12 carries, 57 yards (9 longest); 19 catches, 83 yards (10 longest)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Pittsburgh, CBS
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back
Age 25 | 5–11, 204 | second NFL season | UNC 2021
Roster situation — Second-string RB behind Alexander Mattison
12–10 loss vs. Chicago — 4 carries, 8 yards (6 longest); 2 catches on 3 targets, 3 yards (3 longest); 2.1 fantasy points
Season statistics — 12 games, 37 carries, 168 yards (31 longest), 4.5 average, 1 TD; 10 catches, 83 yards (19 longest), 8.3 average; 3 kickoff returns, 82 yards (33 longest); 1 tackle
Up next after Week 13 open date — 4:05 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at Las Vegas Raiders, Fox
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 22 | 5–9, 171 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver ahead of Isaiah McKenzie
27–21 win vs. Tampa Bay — Started; 5 catches on 13 targets, 43 yards, 8.6 average, 13 longest; 1 tackle after interception; 50 offensive snaps (68%); 10.3 fantasy points
Season statistics — 11 games, 7 starts; 48 catches, 566 yards (59 longest), 2 TDs; 2 tackles
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Tennessee, CBS
Antoine Green, Detroit Lions wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–2, 199 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver behind Marvin Jones Jr.