NFL Expected Point Added (EPA) Tiers with Historical Context
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About EPA Tiers
EPA tiers plot teams by their offensive (x-axis) and defensive (y-axis) performance as measured by EPA / Play.
The grey tier lines create comparisons across teams. Teams on the same line are "equal" and expected to perform similarly on a forward looking basis. Because offensive performance is more predictive than defensive performance, these lines have a slope greater than 1 (1.6).
The tiers themselves represent the historical distribution of teams against the league average (median). For instance, a team at the "p90" line would be better than 90% of teams in any given year.
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(thanks to grok.ai for this detailed analysis)
Kyler Murray's Performance: Last 5 Games vs. Earlier Games (2020-2024)
To answer your query, I’ve analyzed Kyler Murray’s performance in the
last five games of each season from 2020 to 2024 and compared it to his performance in the earlier games of those seasons. The focus is on key quarterback statistics: passer rating, completion percentage, passing yards per game, touchdown-to-interception (TD/INT) ratio, and, where available, rushing stats. Since Murray missed games in some seasons, the analysis considers only the games he played within these periods. The data is derived from season summaries and game logs provided in the conversation history.
Methodology
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Seasons: 2020-2024
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Game Splits:
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Last 5 Games: Games 12-16 (2020), Games 13-17 (2021-2024) — based on the team’s schedule, with stats from games Murray played.
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Earlier Games: Games before the last five (Games 1-11 for 2020, Games 1-12 for 2021-2024) — stats from games Murray played.
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Metrics: Passer rating, completion %, yards/game, TD/INT ratio, rushing yards and TDs.
Season-by-Season Breakdown
2020 Season (Played All 16 Games)
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Earlier Games (Games 1-11):
- Passer Rating: 98.9
- Completion %: 66.7%
- Yards/Game: 254.5
- TD/INT Ratio: 12 TD / 8 INT (1.5)
- Rushing: 50.4 yards/game, 0.4 TD/game
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Last 5 Games (Games 12-16):
- Passer Rating: 100.3
- Completion %: 66.7%
- Yards/Game: 264.0
- TD/INT Ratio: 8 TD / 3 INT (2.67)
- Rushing: 57.6 yards/game, 0.8 TD/game
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Comparison:
- Passing: Slight improvement in passer rating (98.9 → 100.3), yards/game (254.5 → 264.0), and TD/INT ratio (1.5 → 2.67).
- Rushing: Notable increase in yards (50.4 → 57.6) and TDs (0.4 → 0.8).
- Observation: Murray’s performance improved in the last five games, especially as a rusher, contributing to a 5-3 second-half record.
2021 Season (Played 14 Games, Missed Games 10-13)
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Earlier Games (Games 1-9):
- Passer Rating: 112.0
- Completion % : 72.3%
- Yards/Game: 251.0
- TD/INT Ratio: 15 TD / 5 INT (3.0)
- Rushing: 13.5 yards/game, 0.38 TD/game
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Last 5 Games (Games 13-17, Played Games 14-17: 4 games):
- Passer Rating: 88.5
- Completion %: 66.5%
- Yards/Game: 296.5
- TD/INT Ratio: 9 TD / 5 INT (1.8)
- Rushing: 52.5 yards/game, 0.5 TD/game
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Comparison:
- Passing: Decline in passer rating (112.0 → 88.5), completion % (72.3% → 66.5%), and TD/INT ratio (3.0 → 1.8), but yards/game increased (251.0 → 296.5).
- Rushing: Significant jump in yards (13.5 → 52.5) and TDs (0.38 → 0.5).
- Observation: Passing efficiency dropped after returning from injury, but increased rushing helped maintain a 4-2 record in games played.
2022 Season (Played 11 Games, Missed Games 12-17)
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Earlier Games (Games 1-11):
- Passer Rating: 87.0
- Completion %: 65.8%
- Yards/Game: 246.4
- TD/INT Ratio: 12 TD / 6 INT (2.0)
- Rushing: 36.6 yards/game, 0.25 TD/game
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Last 5 Games (Games 13-17, Played None):
- Murray did not play due to injury (ACL tear in Game 12).
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Comparison:
- No data for the last five games. In the 11 games played, his passer rating was 87.0, with the team struggling (4-7 record).
2023 Season (Played 8 Games, Games 10-17)
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Earlier Games (Games 1-12, Played None):
- Murray missed the first nine games recovering from injury.
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Last 5 Games (Games 13-17, Played All 5):
- Passer Rating: 89.4
- Completion %: 65.7%
- Yards/Game: 228.6
- TD/INT Ratio: 10 TD / 4 INT (2.5)
- Rushing: 26.4 yards/game, 0.6 TD/game
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Comparison:
- No earlier games for comparison. In the last five, he showed late improvement (113.7 passer rating in Weeks 16-17), contributing to a 3-5 record.
2024 Season (Played All 17 Games)
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Earlier Games (Games 1-12):
- Passer Rating: 93.8
- Completion %: 68.7%
- Yards/Game: 238.0
- TD/INT Ratio: 9 TD / 6 INT (1.5, estimated)
- Rushing: 32.0 yards/game, 0.25 TD/game
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Last 5 Games (Games 13-17):
- Passer Rating: 94.9
- Completion %: 68.8%
- Yards/Game: 254.3
- TD/INT Ratio: 7 TD / 3 INT (2.33)
- Rushing: 35.1 yards/game, 0.4 TD/game
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Comparison:
- Passing: Slight uptick in passer rating (93.8 → 94.9), yards/game (238.0 → 254.3), and TD/INT ratio (1.5 → 2.33).
- Rushing: Modest increase in yards (32.0 → 35.1) and TDs (0.25 → 0.4).
- Observation: Consistent performance with slight improvement.
Overall Trends
- 2020: Improved slightly in passing and significantly in rushing in the last five games.
- 2021: Passing efficiency declined, but rushing surged, maintaining competitiveness.
- 2022: No data for the last five games due to injury; earlier performance was subpar.
- 2023: Only played the last eight games, with passing and team performance improving late (Weeks 16-17).
- 2024: Consistent passing with marginal gains in both passing and rushing in the last five games.
Conclusion
Kyler Murray’s performance in the last five games of each season from 2020 to 2024, compared to the earlier games, varies by year:
- Improvement: In 2020 and 2024, he showed slight improvement in passing and rushing, despite close losses for the team.
- Decline: In 2021, his passing efficiency dropped significantly, though increased rushing mitigated the impact.
- Incomplete Data: In 2022, he missed the last five games, and in 2023, he only played the latter part, improving late.
The notion of second-half struggles stems largely from 2021, but it’s not a consistent trend. Murray often maintained or enhanced his performance late in seasons when healthy, with his dual-threat ability playing a key role. Injuries and team context heavily influenced outcomes in years with missed games.
Performance Statistics in November and December
Kyler Murray, drafted first overall in 2019, has shown a pattern of declining performance as the NFL season progresses into November and December. While exact game-by-game statistics over his entire career require comprehensive data access, we can synthesize trends based on widely observed patterns and available insights up to his career through the 2023 season.
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Win-Loss Record: Murray’s Cardinals tend to start seasons strongly but falter late. For instance, by aggregating his career through 2023, reports suggest a significant drop-off in winning percentage in November (around .400 or lower) and December (similarly below .500), compared to September and October, where his winning percentage often exceeds .600. This indicates a clear late-season struggle.
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Passing Stats: In earlier months, Murray typically posts higher passer ratings (e.g., 90-100+), with solid completion percentages (65-70%) and yards per game (250-300). In November and December, these numbers often dip—completion rates may fall to 60-63%, yards per game decrease, and interceptions increase relative to touchdowns, reflecting reduced efficiency.
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Rushing Stats: A dual-threat quarterback, Murray’s rushing prowess (averaging 5-6 yards per carry and 40-50 yards per game career-wide) is a key asset. However, late in the season, his rushing yards per game tend to decline (e.g., 30-40 yards), possibly due to fatigue, injury, or defensive adjustments.
Comparison to Earlier Months
The contrast between Murray’s early-season and late-season performance is stark:
- September/October: High energy, effective dual-threat play, and a fresher offensive scheme lead to more wins and better stats.
- November/December: A noticeable decline in both passing accuracy and rushing output suggests either physical wear, strategic predictability, or external pressures
Defensive Support
The Cardinals’ defensive performance provide context for Murray’s record:
- Defensive Performance(points allowed per game and league ranking):
- 2019: 27.6 points (28th) – Poor defense.
- 2020: 22.9 points (13th) – Decent support.
- 2021: 21.5 points (11th) – Solid support, coinciding with an 11-6 record and playoffs.
- 2022: 26.4 points (31st) – Among the league’s worst.
- 2023: 27.1 points (31st) – Again, bottom-tier.
- 2024: 22.3 points (15th) – Average. 31st in time of possession.
In 3 seasons (2019, 2022, 2023), the Cardinals’ defense ranked in the bottom third of the league, offering little support, while in 2020 and 2024, it was just decent or average. The exception was
2021, when a top-11 defense paired with Murray’s best season led to a playoff berth. This suggests that with adequate support, Murray can elevate the team to success, while in other years, the poor defense dragged the record down despite his efforts.
2. Quality of Opponents:
- The NFC West, Murray’s division, features tough late-season matchups against teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams. These teams often peak late, with strong defenses that adapt to Murray’s improvisational style, limiting his effectiveness.
Late-season games against playoff-caliber teams expose this weakness, putting more pressure on Murray to outscore opponents—a tall order when his offense sputters.
Comparison to Peers
To evaluate further, we can compare Murray to quarterbacks who faced similar defensive challenges:
- Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers, 2020-2024):
- Defensive Rankings: Often below average (e.g., 30th in 2021, 24th in 2023).
- Passer Ratings: 93.2 to 99.1 – Comparable to Murray’s.
- QBR: 60.8 to 68.3 – Similar range to Murray’s.
- Murray’s edge comes from his rushing stats, which Herbert doesn’t match, enhancing his overall impact.
- Derek Carr (Las Vegas Raiders, 2019-2023):
- Defensive Rankings: Consistently poor (e.g., 30th in 2020, 28th in 2022).
- Passer Ratings: Declined in later years (e.g., 86.3 in 2022, 91.1 in 2023).
- QBR: 50.1 to 66.1 – Lower than Murray’s in tough years.
- In 2022 and 2023, with bottom-tier defenses (31st), Murray posted 87.2 and 94.9 passer ratings and 49.8 and 62.4 QBRs, outperforming Carr’s 86.3 and 91.1 ratings and 50.1 and 55.6 QBRs.
Murray’s ability to maintain stronger numbers in similar or worse defensive contexts indicates he’s overachieved relative to expectations.
Advanced Metrics and Team Offense
- Offensive DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average): This metric adjusts for opponent strength and shows the Cardinals’ offense under Murray has been above average most years:
- 2020: 7.2% (10th)
- 2021: 12.5% (7th)
- 2022: -5.3% (22nd) – A down year.
- 2023: 3.1% (14th)
- 2024: 5.8% (12th)
- Despite defensive struggles, Murray has kept the offense competitive, often ranking in the top half of the league.
Additional Challenges
Murray has faced
- An inconsistent offensive line, increasing pressure and sacks.
- Coaching and organizational instability, which can hinder performance.
His resilience is in maintaining above-average stats amid all these issues.