Malik Willis — Week 8: Two Touchdowns, Five Sacks

Malik Willis threw two touchdowns against the Patriots and was sacked five times: 21 of 32 for 211 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, the sacks costing 16 yards. He ran once, for 2 yards on third and 1, after 8 carries for 37 yards at the Jets. Over 38 dropbacks he was worth +3.05 expected points added (EPA), what a play was worth given down, distance and field position, +0.08 per dropback. His completion percentage over expected (CPOE), how often he completed passes against what their difficulty predicted, was +2.3.

The throw that cost Miami came early in the fourth. Down 17-13, second and 11 at his own 23, he went deep middle for Caleb Douglas and Kevin Byard intercepted at the New England 47, -2.5 EPA and 5.9 points of win probability, the estimate of each side's chance to win. Two snaps later New England led 24-13.

His touchdowns closed each half. Up 6-3 with 1:50 left in the second quarter, third and 8 at his own 32, he went deep right to Greg Dulcich for 19, and after Caleb Douglas's 18-yarder to the 6, on third and goal at the 1 with 11 seconds left, he threw short left to Malik Washington for the touchdown. Down 24-13, he took Miami 84 yards in 1:51, the last 35 on a deep throw to the left for Kevin Coleman Jr., +4.4 EPA and 9.6 points of win probability. His two-point pass for Will Kacmarek fell incomplete.

The sacks came early: three in the first quarter, on Miami's first two drives, both three-and-outs. Five ties Week 1 for the most he has taken this season.

The rate beat his season. Through Week 7 he was at +0.01 per dropback, +2.5 EPA on 189 dropbacks, with a CPOE of -6.9.

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_Data via nflverse._