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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.
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.
Ty Chandler had a career game in the spotlight of Sunday Night Football, but his Minnesota Vikings couldn’t stop Javonte Williams’ red-hot Denver Broncos. Sam Howell threw three interceptions in a Washington loss on a week that many UNC alums were either inactive or were on open dates.
Running back Javonte Williams continued to be a workhorse for Denver and had his best game of the season Monday night as the streaking Broncos won at Buffalo 24–22. Williams gained a season-high 110 total yards — his first time over 100 this season — with 79 rushing yards on 21 carries and 31 receiving yards, catching all four passes targeted to him, and his second touchdown this season.
Sam Howell threw for three touchdowns, including a huge late one to former UNC teammate Dyami Brown, and produced his fourth game with at least 300 yards this season. It was in a losing effort, but the second-year pro showed why he is the Washington Commanders’ franchise quarterback with another impressive effort.
Cole Holcomb’s season likely came to a painful end Thursday night. Late in the first quarter of Pittsburgh’s 20–16 victory over the Tennessee Titans, the Steelers’ starting left inside linebacker suffered a serious and gruesome left knee injury.
It’s amazing what Sam Howell can do when he has time to throw. After getting sacked 40 times in the first seven weeks, the Philadelphia Eagles only sacked Howell once during their tougher-than-expected 38–31 victory over the Washington Commanders, in a career day for the quarterback in his first season as QB1.
Josh Downs got off to a fast start Sunday on his way to a career-best day in his Indianapolis Colts’ tough 39–38 home loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Sam Howell threw three touchdown passes with a 119.7 passer rating Sunday, both career-highs, to help the Washington Commanders snap a three-game losing streak with a 24–16 road victory over Atlanta. Josh Downs, one of his former targets at UNC, scored his first NFL touchdown.
Josh Downs had the best game of his rookie season, Cole Holcomb had a big day and Ty Chandler made a fake punt work on a Sunday with few bright spots for UNC alums. Although a touchdown still has eluded Downs through five games, the wide receiver caught all six passes targeted to him Sunday for a season-high 97 yards to put up a season-high 15.7 fantasy points in the Indianapolis Colts’ 23–16 home victory over the Tennessee Titans.
For the second time in five days, Sam Howell was dealing and tried to rally the Washington Commanders but came up short. He was again unable to get Washington a victory, but he has commanded the attention of the NFL after his performance in the Commanders’ 40–20 loss Thursday night at home against the Chicago Bears that racked up 26.42 fantasy points.
Sam Howell rebounded from a forgettable game a week earlier as the Washington Commanders challenged the reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles before losing 34–31 in overtime Sunday. It was a day when one injury ended Javonte Williams’ day early and another injury led to Mitchell Trubisky making his season debut.
Trailing 18 points in the first half, Sam Howell rallied the Washington Commanders to victory and showed the league his poise, accuracy and arm strength. Howell made a terrific pinpoint throw into double coverage to the end zone in the third quarter for a 30-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin to tie the game early in the second half. Washington held on for a 35–33 victory Sunday at Denver.
There was room to grow for Washington quarterback Sam Howell in his first NFL start as QB1 on Sunday, but at least he got a victory. Howell rebounded from an interception and a costly fumble to throw for one touchdown and run for another as the Commanders earned a 20–16 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in the opener for both teams.
The biggest spotlights will be on Sam Howell and Javonte Williams as the NFL season starts this week, but rookies such as Josh Downs will also be worth watching. Dyami Brown may get more chances early this season, and three other UNC alums moved up on depth charts leading up to this weekend’s openers.
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