The Washington Commanders will try to protect quarterback Sam Howell and slow down Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown when the NFC East rivals meet for the second time this month Sunday in Landover, Md.
Howell has been sacked 40 times through seven games, a record-setting pace that includes five takedowns during Washington’s 34-31 overtime loss in Philadelphia in Week 4.
Brown caught nine passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Eagles in that meeting, part of his active streak of five consecutive games with 125-plus receiving yards.
The offensive line of the Commanders (3-4) will be tested as the Eagles (6-1) look to push Washington closer to the NFL record of 76 sacks allowed by the expansion Houston Texans in 16 games in 2002.
Howell was sacked six times in last Sunday’s 14-7 road loss to the New York Giants. He completed just 22 of his 42 passes for 249 yards with no touchdowns and one interception, his seventh of the season.
“Everyone has a hand in it,” Howell said. “A lot of the sacks this year, I think I could’ve done a better job of getting rid of the ball. Then there (are) times that we get beat up front.”
Commanders coach Ron Rivera agreed that the problem is “twofold.”
“We do talk constantly about lowering the sack level,” Rivera said. “Again, that’s twofold. That’s some things that we can do up front better, and some things we can do better as the quarterback.”
The Philadelphia pass rush hasn’t been as dominant as last season when the Eagles set a franchise record with 70 sacks, but the team enters Week 8 tied for third in the NFL with 24 sacks. Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick each have 5.5 and rookie first-round pick Jalen Carter has 3.5.
The Eagles have won five of the last six meetings at Washington going back to the 2017 season.
Brown caught 10 passes for 137 yards and a TD in Philadelphia’s 31-17 win Sunday night against the Miami Dolphins to extend his streak. His 14-yard TD catch from Jalen Hurts broke a 17-17 tie late in the third quarter, and his 42-yard reception set up Kenneth Gainwell’s 3-yard TD run with 4:46 left.
After setting a franchise record with 1,496 receiving yards in his first season with Philadelphia in 2022, Brown has 52 catches for 809 yards and three scores through seven games.
Brown’s five-game streak of 125-plus yards matches Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson’s 2012 run with the Detroit Lions for the longest in the league since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
“I wouldn’t say I’m in a zone,” Brown said. “I’m just, each and every possession, I’m trying to stay locked in with my routes and my pad level and just making sure I catch the ball and breaking it down to the smallest little (detail), and just trying to stay locked in for my team.”
The Eagles began the week healthy, with only cornerback Bradley Roby (shoulder) missing Wednesday’s practice. Defensive tackle Milton Williams (heel) was limited.
Wideout Curtis Samuel (foot), guard Saahdiq Charles (calf) and linebacker Cody Barton (ankle) did not practice for Washington on Wednesday, while guard Sam Cosmi (hip) and tight end Cole Turner (ankle) were limited.
–Field Level Media
