The Eagles are in Washington this week. They were upset by the Commanders last season, and they needed overtime to get by them in Week 4, both at home. And yet, they're favored by 8.5 points. Several reasons for this, one which became clear as I took a close look at the game.
The Eagles have the league's top-ranked run defense, while Washington has struggled to run the ball. That will put the offense squarely on the shoulders of Sam Howell, and that's a problem. Philadelphia doesn't have the pass rush it had a year ago (70 sacks), but it has 24, on pace for 58 (still very good). And Howell himself is taking sacks at a record rate.
Somewhat unbelievably, he's taken 40 sacks in just 7 games. He's on pace for 97, if he stays in the lineup (or in one piece) for 17 games. That probably won't happen, but David Carr's record of 76 is within reach.
Here are the top sack seasons (quarterbacks taking 55 or more sacks) since the NFL started keeping track of the statistic. Howell right now, just 7 games in, is within shouting distance of the top 50. Data compiled using the search tools at pro-football-reference.com. David Carr well represented, of course. A couple of guys from last year made it into the top 25 all-time.
MOST SACKED QUARTERBACKS, SEASON | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | G | Sk |
2002 | David Carr, Hou. | 16 | 76 |
1986 | Randall Cunningham, Phi. | 15 | 72 |
2005 | David Carr, Hou. | 16 | 68 |
2006 | Jon Kitna, Det. | 16 | 63 |
2000 | Steve Beuerlein, Car. | 16 | 62 |
1985 | Ken O'Brien, NYJ | 16 | 62 |
2018 | Deshaun Watson, Hou. | 16 | 62 |
1985 | Neil Lomax, St.L. | 16 | 61 |
1992 | Randall Cunningham, Phi. | 15 | 60 |
1984 | Tony Eason, N.E. | 16 | 59 |
1997 | Jeff George, Oak. | 16 | 58 |
2013 | Ryan Tannehill, Mia. | 16 | 58 |
2001 | Mark Brunell, Jac. | 15 | 57 |
1988 | Randall Cunningham, Phi. | 16 | 57 |
1999 | Tim Couch, Cle. | 15 | 56 |
2018 | Dak Prescott, Dal. | 16 | 56 |
1999 | Drew Bledsoe, N.E. | 16 | 55 |
2014 | Blake Bortles, Jac. | 14 | 55 |
2022 | Justin Fields, Chi. | 15 | 55 |
1976 | Greg Landry, Det. | 14 | 55 |
1984 | Phil Simms, NYG | 16 | 55 |
2022 | Russell Wilson, Den. | 15 | 55 |
--Andy Richardson