Cowboys star expected better performance for himself this season

Even though the Dallas Cowboys have one of the NFL's best offenses and enter the weekend with a chance to win the NFC East, one of their top players expected more from himself this season. Running back Tony Pollard suggested on Thursday that he did not meet his own personal expectations for this season and that he is always going to be his biggest critic.

"I thought I would probably have a better year than I am now. Where we are as far as playoffs and rankings, I couldn't complain with everything in front of us," Pollard said via the Cowboys' official website, "I would say just trying to get more at-bats at the plate. Get more repetition for the o-line and get a feel for how the defense is playing things and getting into a rhythm."

Entering Week 18 Pollard had rushed for 935 yards on 235 carries (4.0 yards per carry) with five touchdowns. He had also caught 53 passes for 295 yards.

Pollard posted a breakthrough season in 2022 that resulted in him not only getting the franchise tag as a free agent, but also making longtime Cowboy Ezekiel Elliott expendable during the offseason. In 2022 Pollard rushed for 1,007 yards on only 193 carries despite the fact he started only four games and split the running back role with Elliott. 

He suffered an injury in the playoffs during the Cowboys' divisional-round loss to the San Francisco 49ers. 

Prior to this season, Pollard had averaged at least five yards per carry in three of his first four years in the NFL. His yards per carry average this season is the lowest of his career. 

Despite Pollard taking a small step backwards the Cowboys offense has still been mostly outstanding, especially at home. Dallas has averaged 29.4 points per game (third best in the NFL) this season. If they simply beat the Washington Commanders on Sunday the Cowboys will win the NFC East and get a home playoff game. They have won 16 consecutive home games – including all eight this season – dating back to the 2022 campaign.