PHILADELPHIA – Eagles defensive linemen have talked lately about “earning the right to pass rush” — getting stops on first and second downs to put opponents in passing situations.
In Sunday’s 35-10 victory over Tennessee Titans at Lincoln Financial Field, the defense bottled up running back Derrick Henry, limiting him to 30 yards on 11 carries. His longest run was six yards. That put the Titans right where the Eagles wanted.
“We knew that if we got them into third and long, we had a shot with the pass rush,” defensive end Brandon Graham said. “That’s what we planned on doing.”
The Titans faced 14 third downs, converting only four as the Eagles sacked quarterback Ryan Tannehill six times, with defensive end Josh Sweat collecting two sacks to go with his four tackles, three quarterback hits, and tackle for loss. Of the Eagles’ six sacks, five came on third downs, with the other on second-and-long.
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Sweat has been coming on strong in the past few weeks, getting five of his 6.5 sacks in a five-game span, placing him second on the team in that category. He trails only defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who has eight.
Sacks were not coming easily to Sweat early in the season. After he had a career-high 7.5 sacks last season, teams changed their approach and put more bodies on him. Originally, it frustrated him, work and adjustments are paying off.
“Honestly, I had to get past the part where I knew I was going to be taking double teams and chips,” Sweat said after Sunday’s win. “I knew they were going to make it frustrating for me. I kept practicing ways to get through it, taking anything I could from the game as a key. It’s nice because it is showing up now. It’s been frustrating with the quick passes and the lack of one on ones. It’s been ridiculous.”
That work made it sweeter for Sweat to take Tannehill to the ground, using a quick first step and bend to get around the Titans tackles and running back protection.
“It felt good,” Sweat said. “I saw my opportunities, and I took advantage of them whether a running back was chipping me or not. I made the best of it, but it felt good.”
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Linebacker Hasson Reddick, who had a sack and four QB hits on Sunday, has seen the work that Sweat has put in and predicted it was only a matter of time before the sacks would come.
“He had a big day today, and I’m happy for him and proud of it,” Reddick said. “I knew a game like this was coming for him because he’s worked hard all year. He’s played well, but sometimes you need things that go right and need things to go your way for you to get the stats and the production on paper to show what you’re doing. He’s been rushing at a high level each week.”
The Eagles, who still own the NFL’s best record and top seed in the NFC at 11-1, have two games remaining against the struggling Giants, who have given up the fifth-most sacks this season (37). The Eagles also face the Chicago Bears, who are No. 2 in surrendering sacks (42). And with added depth from Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph, the first-line pass rushers — like Fletcher Cox, Graham, Javon Hargrave and Sweat — stay fresh.
“We have some dudes up there on the D-line who can play,” defensive tackle Cox said. “We can rotate and there’s no drop-off. No matter who’s in the game, the intensity is still there.”
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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.