Tag: Carolina football

UNC rallies for huge win over Pitt to take control of Coastal race

CHAPEL HILL — No matter how many mistakes Carolina’s defense makes, redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Maye always seems to find a way. It sure helps to have two dynamic wide receivers in senior Antoine Green and junior Josh Downs. Once again, the No. 21 Tar Heels’ defense made enough big second-half plays to keep the momentum going on what is developing into a season that might be special.

Tar Heels in NFL: Hollins shows play-making skills in Raiders’ win; Carter snags longest career reception in Jets win, likely to start again after Hall injury

Las Vegas wide receiver Mack Hollins was questionable to play Sunday because of a heel injury, but the Tar Heel once again showed that he’s a proven play-maker in the NFL while showing off his personality along the way. Another Tar Heel, New York Jets running back Michael Carter, should be a starter again and see his playing time rise after a season-ending injury to a talented rookie running back.

Heels move up in AP poll, benefit in Coastal race from Pitt’s loss

North Carolina’s football team, which moved up one spot to No. 21 in the AP Top 25, didn’t play this weekend but the Tar Heels’ potential path to the ACC championship game got a bit easier. Louisville provided help by winning 24–10 at home Saturday against Pittsburgh, which gives the Tar Heels (6–1, 3–0 ACC) a two-game lead in the loss column over their closest competitors in the race to be the final ACC Coastal Division champion.

Tar Heels in NFL: Trubisky relieves Pickett, is confident, aggressive in helping Steelers upset Bucs; Carter’s Jets role reduced

Mitch Trubisky has been playing on Pittsburgh’s scout team the last two weeks and not getting live reps in practice, but that didn’t seem to matter Sunday when rookie Kenny Pickett left the game in the third quarter with a concussion. Two games after Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin benched him in favor of the rookie from Pitt at halftime of the Oct. 2 loss to the New York Jets, Trubisky looked more aggressive and confident. That helped the Steelers hold on for a 20–18 home upset of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brown used an offense that’s better than the defense, but says the defense is ‘catching up’

Coach Mack Brown has grown accustomed during his second stint as Carolina’s coach to having an offense that’s much better than his defense. That hasn’t changed through the Tar Heels’ 5–1 start, particularly considering that the offense has talented, skilled players such as quarterback Drake Maye and receivers Josh Downs and Antoine Green.

Tar Heels in NFL: Dyami Brown has two spectacular TD receptions; Michael Carter runs for two TDs in Jets win

Dyami Brown had a quiet rookie season with Washington and didn’t get many chances to show his talent in the first four Commanders games this season. He got his chance on Sunday and took advantage by making two spectacular touchdown receptions, including a career-high 75-yard play, in Washington’s 21–17 home loss to the Tennessee Titans. Linebacker Cole Holcomb also put up big numbers in that game. New York Jets running back Michael Carter also had two touchdowns.

UNC’s defense makes enough big plays as Heels alone atop Coastal with win

After its best performance of the season a week earlier, Carolina’s defense went through its share of struggles Saturday at Miami. But that unit made enough big plays to keep the Tar Heels in control on a day that Caleb Hood emerged as their main running back. With Carolina’s 27–24 win in Miami Gardens, Fla., the Tar Heels (5–1) are alone atop of the ACC Coastal Division at 2–0 and learned how to win when quarterback Drake Maye wasn’t always on top of his game.

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.

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.