By R.L. Bynum
On a rough day for Sam Howell in another Washington loss, Mitchell Trubisky finally got on the field for the first time in over a month and was an accurate passer, but had his share of frustrations in Pittsburgh’s loss.
Trubisky had his moments but also red zone troubles. He entered the Steelers’ 24–10 home loss to Arizona in the second quarter after starting Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered a right ankle injury.
“Just sloppiness, lack of execution when we get down in the red zone,” said Trubisky, who was 11 of 17 for 117 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions and a 104.3 passer rating. “Shot ourselves in the foot a lot today. We had some good play, but the negative plays really killed us.”
The last possession was his best, as Trubisky engineered a 10-play, 75-yard drive, throwing a two-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Diontae Johnson with 4:30 remaining.
“I think you look at that drive, and you try to take away some positives,” said Trubisky, who played 30 (just shy of half of the Steelers’) offensive snaps.
Trubisky had a costly fumble on a bad snap by Steelers center Mason Cole that led to a Cardinals touchdown.
“I’ve got to get on top of that,” Trubisky said. “It was a low snap. But, unfortunately, there’s a screen called, so we’re trying to get the linemen out, so the guy was able to hit me before I was able to pick it up. Just an unfortunate situation. I’ve got to find a way to get on the ball so it’s not negative play the game.”
It was only his third game of the season after going 15 of 27 for 138 yards, one TD and two interceptions on Oct. 29 in a 20–10 home loss to Jacksonville and 3 of 5 for 18 yards in a 30–6 Oct. 1 loss at Houston.
It’s a quick turnaround for Pittsburgh (7–5), which hosts New England at 8:15 Thursday (Prime Video).
Michael Carter had four carries for 25 yards in 14 total snaps in his second game since signing with Arizona, including a 19-yard run.
Washington’s offensive line issues returned in the Commanders’ 45–15 home loss to the Miami Dolphins, as Howell was constantly under pressure and he was sacked three times. He was 12 of 23 for a career-low 127 yards, no touchdowns, a two-point conversion completion and an interception, but ran for 21 yards and two touchdowns.
Howell has been sacked 58 times and remains on pace to break the NFL record of 76 that David Carr set in the Houston Texans’ first season.
The two scores helped him put up 20.8 fantasy points, but Howell’s 50.5 passer rating was the second-worst of his career, with the 41.5 in the 37–3 loss Sept. 24 the only game with a lower rating. His previous fewest passing yards were 151 in the 24–16 win Oct. 15 at Atlanta.
He threw one interception to give him five in the last three games after only throwing four in the previous seven games. For the third consecutive week, an interception was returned for a touchdown.
After Miami linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel returned the interception for a score on a screen pass, Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy could be seen yelling at Howell on the sideline.
It looked like Howell had thrown a one-yard touchdown pass to Dyami Brown early in the second quarter but, after a replay review, officials ruled that Brown’s knee touched the ground before the ball crossed the plane of the goal line. Howell ran up the middle on the next play for Washington’s first score. That was the only pass targeted to Brown, who played 16 of his 27 snaps on special teams and got a tackle on punt coverage.
Howell added a 13-yard touchdown run with 4:31 left in the third quarter, then completed a two-point conversion pass to Logan Thomas, but that only cut Washington’s deficit to 38–15.
Washington fell to 4–9, and the blowout loss to Miami came after a 45–10 Thanksgiving Day defeat at Dallas to extend the Commanders’ losing streak to four.
“Been a tough couple weeks,” Howell said.
Javonte Williams had 13 carries for 46 yards and three catches for 24 yards in 39 snaps during Denver’s 22–17 loss at Houston to end the Broncos’ five-game win streak.
Williams picked up a big first down on a fourth-and-one with two minutes left as the Broncos tried to drive for the winning touchdown. But a Russell Wilson pass was intercepted on a third-and-goal at the Houston 8 with 16 seconds to go.
Houston offensive lineman Charlie Heck came off the PUP list and made his season debut, playing four special-teams snaps.
Chazz Surratt had two special-teams tackles 23 special-teams snaps in the New York Jets’ 13–8 home loss to Atlanta.
Josh Downs came off the bench in Indianapolis’ 31–28 win at Tennessee, catching three passes on five targets for 14 yards in 48 offensive snaps.
In New Orleans’ 33–28 home loss to Detroit, James Hurst started at left guard and played all 67 offensive snaps in addition to a special-teams snap.
Inactive for their teams’ games were Dallas offensive lineman Asim Richards, Detroit wide receiver Antoine Green, Atlanta wide receiver Mack Hollins and Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes.
UNC alums who had the weekend off were Minnesota running back Ty Chandler and New York Giants offensive lineman Marcus McKethan.
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
45–15 loss vs. Miami — 1 catch on 1 target, 0 yards; 1 tackle on punt coverage; 2.0 fantasy points; 11 offensive snaps (20%), 16 special-teams snaps (57%)
Season statistics — 13 games, 1 start; 12 catches, 164 yards (35 longest), 1 TD; 1 rush, 0 yards; 1 assist; 1 special-teams tackle
Up next after Week 14 open date — 4:05 Sunday, Dec. 17, at Los Angeles Rams, CBS
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
24–10 win at Pittsburgh — 4 carries, 25 yards, 6.3 average (19 longest); 2.5 fantasy points; 13 offensive snaps (19%), 1 special-teams snap (4%)
Season statistics — 11 games, 16 carries, 82 yards (9 longest); 19 catches, 83 yards (10 longest)
Up next after Week 14 open date — 4:05 Sunday, Dec. 17, vs. San Francisco, 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
Minnesota had the weekend off
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 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday 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
31–28 win at Tennessee — Didn’t start; 3 catches on 5 targets, 14 yards, 4.7 average (9 longest); 4.4 fantasy points; 48 offensive snaps (68%)
Season statistics — 12 games, 7 starts; 51 catches, 580 yards (59 longest), 2 TDs; 2 tackles
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cincinnati, 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.