By R.L. Bynum
It was Mitch Trubisky against Drake Maye on Sunday and, in an example of how the last weekend of the regular season is a little different, Trubisky got much more playing time on a day that Josh Downs put up big numbers and Michael Carter scored a touchdown.
In New England’s 23–16 victory over Buffalo, Maye only played one series, going 0 for 1 passing with a sack, while Trubisky got his most extensive playing time of the season because the playoff-bound Bills rested Josh Allen.
Trubisky was 15 of 21 for 101 yards, throwing a 2-yard touchdown pass to Ray Davis in the second quarter. Wide receiver Mack Hollins had three catches on four targets for 25 yards for the Bills.
After the Patriots win, which eliminated their chance at getting the No. 1 draft pick, they fired Coach Josh Mayo after one season.
Indianapolis didn’t make the playoffs, but Downs and the Colts finished on a high note in their 26–23 home win over Jacksonville. Downs had 10 catches on 13 targets for 94 yards, including an 18-yard gain.
Downs has 140 receptions through two seasons, breaking Marvin Harrison’s franchise record of 137.
Carter, who started, used his speed to sprint to the left pylon and score on a four-yard touchdown run in Arizona’s 37–24 home win over San Francisco. He finished with 43 yards on 17 carries and caught all four passes targeted to him for 16 yards. San Francisco offensive lineman Charlie Heck started at left tackle and played 60 total snaps.
Javonte Williams had five carries for 28 yards and three catches for 50 in Denver’s 38–0 romp over Kansas City, which was resting its starters. Denver will visit Buffalo at 1 p.m. Sunday (CBS) in the wild-card round.
In Washington’s 23–19 victory at Dallas, Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown had a pass attempt to the end zone on a trick play that wasn’t completed. He had three catches on four targets for 16 yards and one carry for eight yards. For the Cowboys, offensive lineman Asim Richards played 58 total snaps off the bench.
Washington plays at Tampa Bay in the wild-card round at 7:30 Sunday (NBC).
Linebacker Cedric Gray had three assists and a tackle on punt coverage in Tennessee’s 23–14 home loss to Houston. For the Texans, safety M.J. Stewart had five tackles, including two for losses, and one assist.
Houston hosts the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round at 4:30 Saturday (CBS).
Cornerback Storm Duck recorded three tackles, one assist and defended a pass in Miami’s 32–20 road loss to the New York Jets. Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt had one tackle in 22 total snaps off the bench.
In the New York Giants’ 20–13 loss at Philadelphia, Giants linebacker Tomon Fox had two tackles. Offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu, who played 31 total snaps off the bench, had a tackle after an interception.
Mike Hughes had one tackle before getting injured in the first quarter after playing only three snaps of Atlanta’s 44–38 overtime home loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Tez Walker played 15 offensive snaps and 19 special-teams snaps with no statistics in Baltimore’s 35–10 Saturday home win over Cleveland. The Ravens host Pittsburgh in the playoffs at 8 p.m. Saturday (Prime Video).
Linebacker Amari Gainer played 25 special-teams snaps for Las Vegas in the Raiders’ 34–20 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Quarterback Sam Howell didn’t play for Seattle in the Seahawks’ 30–25 road win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Ty Chandler played nine special-teams snaps off the bench for Minnesota in the Vikings’ 31-9 Sunday night loss at Detroit. Minnesota plays on the road in the wild-card weekend at 8 p.m. Monday against the Los Angeles Rams.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–0, 195 | 4th NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 6 games, 30 catches, 308 yards (51 longest), 10.8 average, 1 TD; 3 carries, 25 yards (14 longest); 0 of 1 passing
23–19 Sunday win at Dallas — Started; 3 catches on 4 targets, 16 yards (11 longest) 1 carry, 8 yards; 0 for 1 passing; 25 offensive snaps (43%)
Wild-card round — 7:30 Sunday at Tampa Bay, NBC
Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals running back
Age 25 | 5–8, 201 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string running back
Season statistics — 3 games, 35 carries, 131 yards (13 longest), 1 TD; 11 catches on 11 targets, 57 yards (18 longest)
47–24 Sunday win vs. San Francisco — Started; 17 carries, 43 yards (9 longest), 1 TD; 4 catches on 4 targets, 16 yards (9 longest); 50 offensive snaps (77%)
Didn’t make the playoffs
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back
Age 26 | 5–11, 204 | 3rd NFL season | UNC 2021
Roster situation — First-string kick returner behind Kene Nwangwu; second-string running back behind Aaron Jones
Season statistics — 17 games, 56 rushes, 182 yards (25 longest); 6 catches, 42 yards (10 longest); 8 kick returns, 205 yards; sacked once for a 1-yard loss; 3 special-teams tackles, 1 special-teams assist
31–9 Sunday loss at Detroit — Played 9 special-teams snaps (39%) off the bench
Playoff opener — 8 p.m. Monday at Los Angeles Rams, ESPN, ABC
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 23 | 5–9, 171 | 2nd NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver ahead of Anthony Gould
Season statistics — 14 games, 72 catches, 803 yards (69 longest), 5 TDs; 1 carry, 12 yards; 16 punt returns, 161 yards (23 longest); 1 tackle; 1 fumble recovery
26–23 Sunday win vs. Jacksonville — Started; 10 catches on 13 targets, 94 yards (18 longest); 59 offensive snaps (76%)
Didn’t make the playoffs
Storm Duck, Miami Dolphins cornerback
Age 23 | 6–0, 195 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Third-string right cornerback
Season statistics — 14 games, 23 tackles, 11 assists, 2 tackles for losses, 4 passes defended, 2 tackles on kickoff coverage
32–20 Sunday loss at New York Jets — Started; 3 tackles, 1 assist, 1 pass defended; 49 defensive snaps (77%)
Didn’t make the playoffs
Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants offensive lineman
Age 25 | 6–4, 310 | 3rd NFL season | UNC 2016–21
Roster situation — Starting left tackle
Season statistics — 16 games, 1824 offensive snaps, 51 special-teams snaps
20–13 Sunday loss at Philadelphia — Played off the bench; 1 tackle after an interception; 28 offensive snaps (53%), 3 special-teams snaps (12%)
Didn’t make the playoffs
Tomon Fox, New York Giants linebacker
Age 26 | 6–2, 245 | third NFL season | UNC 2016–21
Roster situation — Third-string right outside linebacker
Season statistics — 11 games, 6 tackles, 6 assists, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 quarterback hits, 2 special-teams tackles, 1 special-teams assist