Malik Willis — Week 5: Two Interceptions, 74 Rushing Yards

Malik Willis ran well and threw poorly against the Bengals: 15 of 27 for 137 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions and 3 sacks, plus 74 yards and a score on 8 carries. He was worth -5.1 expected points added (EPA) on 34 dropbacks, -0.15 per dropback. EPA is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position.

Both interceptions came in the second quarter, both by Jordan Battle, both on throws for Kevin Coleman Jr. Down 14-7 with 10:32 left in the half, second and 10 at midfield, Willis threw short left and Battle picked it off at the Cincinnati 42: -4.6 EPA and -9.9 points of win probability. On third and 4 at his own 29 five minutes later, Battle intercepted him again, -2.7 EPA.

His legs kept Miami in it. Down 28-10 to open the fourth quarter, third and 13 at his own 17, he scrambled 39 yards to the Cincinnati 44, +4.2 EPA, and the drive ended in his 3-yard touchdown pass to Coleman. Down 31-18 on the last drive, he scrambled for 10, hit Coleman for 23 to the 1 and ran it in himself with 48 seconds left.

The passing matched his baseline; the running beat it. Through Week 4 he had -14.4 EPA on 127 dropbacks, -0.11 per dropback, and 2 interceptions. His completion percentage over expected (CPOE), completions against what the throws' difficulty predicted, was -1.8, after -8.8 across those four games. His 74 rushing yards topped any earlier week; his best had been 56.

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_Data via nflverse._