Eagles set franchise, NFL records for sacks
All-time mark is up for grabs next week
PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles rewrote sacks records Sunday.
Of course, that was one of the few things they did right in a 20-10 loss to the Saints at Lincoln Financial Field.
Brandon Graham and Haason Reddick dropped Saints quarterback Andy Daulton twice each, leading to seven sacks overall and 68 on the season for the Eagles. That obliterates the old record of 61 sacks set in 1989 and puts the Birds within range of the all-time NFL record of 72 sacks set by the 1984 Bears.
Graham’s first sack established the record and was his 10th of the season, giving the Eagles four pass rushers with double digit sacks, an NFL first. All of it went for naught, though, because at the end of the sunny day the Eagles were no closer to clinching the top seed in the NFC.
Veteran defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who had one sack and has seven on the season, shrugged when it was suggested the records were bittersweet.
“I think the biggest record today is we’re 13-3 and we’ve lost two games in a row,” Cox said. “I think all the sacks stuff is out the window. Obviously, it’s a great accomplishment for us up front as a defense.
But I think the biggest stat for today is we put an L in the L column. We’ve got to find a way to win. Get back to winning.”
Couldn’t have said that better. For the Eagles to get where they want to be, they must defeat the Giants Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
The good news is the Giants clinched the sixth seed in the playoffs with a 38-10 demolition of the Colts and have nothing tangible to play for next weekend. Quite a contrast to the dynamic of a couple of years ago where the Giants accused Doug Pederson and the Eagles of tanking in a season-ending loss to Washington that put the Football Team into the playoffs.
All that said, Cox helped his good friend Graham enjoy the 10th sack, knowing it’s been a long time coming. Graham embraced it, too.
“It’s a great feeling, especially coming off of an Achilles’ tendon,” Graham said. “People didn’t think coming off the injury that I would be back doing what I’m doing. It’s a credit to just having a one-day-ata-time mentality and enjoying the whole process. Now that I’m feeling good, it’s just going out there and making plays when they come. I’m just thankful to make history with the team.”
To get to where the Eagles want to be, it’s going to take a determined effort from the line. Reddick has 16 sacks, Graham and Javon Hargrave 11 sacks. The bad news is Josh Sweat (11 sacks), their best all-around defensive lineman, was carted off the field in the first quarter with a neck injury, his body immobilized after getting caught in a whiplash type of accident.
The Eagles said Sweat has movement in all extremities and was scheduled to be released Sunday night. Beyond that, the good news is the Eagles still can accomplish their goals of winning the NFC East and earning the top seed in the conference, along with a bye. But they must beat the Giants.
“Nobody is panicking,” Cox said. “Coaches, players, nobody is in a super panic mode. Obviously not the outcome we wanted today but we get to play next week for a division. And I think that’s most important right now.”