Tony Pollard — Week 7: Three Touchdowns, 129 Yards

Tony Pollard scored three times against the Browns, two more touchdowns than he had all season: 25 carries for 129 yards, both season highs, plus 3 catches on 3 targets for 26 yards, in a 27-24 loss at home. The carries were worth -2.7 expected points added (EPA), what a play was worth given down, distance and field position, and 13 of the 25 (52%) gained positive EPA.

The first quarter was his. On the opening drive, first and 10 at the Cleveland 36, he went off right tackle and ran it in for a 36-yard touchdown, +3.0 EPA. After Cordale Flott's interception he scored again, first and 10 at the 10, around left end for 14-0. He had 12 carries for 87 yards in that quarter.

His other 13 carries gained 42 yards. Up 14-7 in the second quarter, his 4-yard touchdown was reversed on review to the 1, and three snaps later, on fourth and 1, Winston Reid stopped him for no gain: -3.4 EPA and 8.3 points of win probability, the estimate of each side's chance to win. He got the last one back. Down 24-17 with 1:01 left, second and 1 at the 1, he went up the middle for the touchdown that tied it after the extra point, +8.4 points of win probability. His 16-yard catch on second and 10 at midfield earlier in the fourth, +9.3 points of win probability, came on the drive that ended in Joey Slye's field goal.

More carries succeeded than usual, and fewer paid. Through Week 6 he had 87 carries for 349 yards, 1 touchdown and -6.3 EPA, -0.07 a carry, with 40% positive; here it was -0.11 a carry and 52%. He had caught 8 of 13 targets for 24 yards.

Follow Tony Pollard on Muffed, and every episode lands in your weekly email.

_Data via nflverse._