Tar Heels in NFL: Hollins has career day, makes two late clutch catches but Raiders fall

Mack Hollins made a lot of fantasy football owners happy with the best performance of his career Sunday as he continues to put up more significant numbers than star Devonte Adams, his fellow wide receiver with the Las Vegas Raiders. Hollins made two clutch catches on a late touchdown drive in the Raiders’ 24–22 loss at Tennessee on Sunday and showed that he’s a dangerous weapon for them. UNC fans already knew he was versatile, and he proved that by also throwing a pass and downing a punt.

Irish’s offense goes from struggling to dominating UNC’s beleaguered defense

CHAPEL HILL — On a day that started with Carolina’s defense looking like it had finally gotten its act together, the Tar Heels quickly helped a previously inept Notre Dame offense have its best game of the season. UNC was manhandled on the line after holding the Irish to 40 first-quarter yards, and the number of blown coverage by the defense easily outnumbered the big plays it made.

After Steelers’ second consecutive loss, Tomlin says he’s sticking with Trubisky

While there is growing frustration among Pittsburgh Steelers fans with the team’s offense under the direction of Mitch Trubisky after a second consecutive defeat, Coach Mike Tomlin is sticking with the former UNC quarterback. Trubisky didn’t throw a touchdown pass for the first time in three games, and the Pittsburgh Steelers lost at Cleveland 29–17 Thursday night. Otherwise, though, Trubisky had his best statistical game as a Steeler with season-highs of an 81.1 passer rating and 207 passing yards. He completed 20 of 32 passes with no interceptions and ran 1 yard for a second-quarter touchdown.

Bucs place Bernard on injured reserve; Holcomb limited in practice; Trubisky plays Thursday

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed reserve running back Giovani Bernard on injured reserve Wednesday with an ankle injury, meaning he will miss at least the next four weeks. Bernard, 30, left Sunday’s victory over New Orleans in the third quarter and didn’t return. He didn’t get an offensive snap in the first two Bucs game, playing 11 special-teams snaps, including returning a kickoff 14 yards against the Saints.

Tar Heels in NFL: Hollins has huge game; Williams does well with more carries; Trubisky booed during Steelers’ loss

There was a lot of buzz during the preseason about how good Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Mack Hollins looked. Although it wasn’t evident in the Raiders’ opener, Hollins showed his ability in their 29–23 overtime home loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Hollins, in his first season with Las Vegas, pulled down five catches on eight targets for a career-high-tying 66 yards.

Tar Heels in NFL: Trubisky makes big OT plays in Steelers win; Carter collects 100 yards

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.

UNC’s defense makes enough big plays as Heels hold on for win

Imagine a Carolina offense with both Koby Paysour and Josh Downs as potential passing targets for Drake Maye and a defense that plays consistently well. The Tar Heels may get the former in two weeks against No. 8 Notre Dame, and while the latter didn’t happen in their 35–28 Saturday victory over Georgia State at Petit Field in Atlanta, the defense had its moments and showed some improvement by forcing seven three-and-outs.