PHILADELPHIA − There are several accomplishments and team records that the Eagles can reach with a win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
And they can still do many of them on offense without quarterback Jalen Hurts, who reportedly will miss a second straight game with a shoulder injury after being listed as doubtful.
The first is clinching the NFC East and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, and the first-round bye that goes with it.
But winning will also give the Eagles 14 wins in a season for the first time in team history. The Eagles have twice won 13 games in a season, in 2004 and 2017. Both times they went to the Super Bowl. The Eagles reached the 13 wins in 16-game seasons.
MINSHEW AND WENTZ?What Carson Wentz can learn from Eagles’ Gardner Minshew as both QBs get a second chance
The NFL went to a 17-game season in 2021, but a win Sunday can still give the Eagles the 14 wins in 16 games. And if the Eagles score 30 points or more, they’ll break the previous franchise record for points in a season.
The Eagles scored 474 points in 2014., but interestingly enough, they didn’t make the playoffs that season despite a 10-6 record.
There are personal records at stake, too.
Wide receiver A.J. Brown needs 106 yards receiving to set the franchise record for receiving yards in a season, set by Mike Quick with 1,409 yards in 1983.
On the defensive side, the Eagles can set both an NFL and a franchise record for sacks. The Eagles already have three players with at least 10 sacks in Haason Reddick (14.5), Josh Sweat (11) and Javon Hargrave (10). They’re just the third NFL team to have three players with 10 or more since 1982, when sacks became an official stat.
No team has ever had four players surpass 10 or more sacks. Brandon Graham is at 9, and yes, he’s well aware of that. Graham, who’s 34 years old, has never reached double digits in sacks in his previous 12 seasons. His best was 9.5 in 2017.
As a team, the Eagles have 61 sacks, one short of tying the franchise record set in 1989 with Reggie White, Jerome Brown and Clyde Simmons.
“Man, that would mean a lot because we’ll go down in history for that,” Graham said. “But there’s no pressure. I’m just out here having fun … We heard about that (team) record for so long in this organization, so to be able to be two sacks away, don’t think about it, just be us.”
The game begins at 1 p.m., and FOX will televise with Joe Davis, Daryl Johnston and Pam Oliver providing coverage.
3 things I’m watching
- No Minshew miscues: Gardner Minshew played a strong first game against Dallas, throwing for 355 yards and 2 TDs. But Minshew also threw 2 interceptions and was credited with a fumble on a bad exchange with Boston Scott. Minshew said he learned his lessons and will adapt.
- No Saints marching: The Eagles have the NFL’s top-ranked passing defense, allowing just 181 yards passing per game. But they got burned last week by the Cowboys, who threw for 304 yards. Dak Prescott threw a 52-yard pass to convert a 3rd-and-30. That shouldn’t happen against the Saints, who are 15th in the NFL in passing, averaging 223 yards per game.
- Gaining with Gainwell: The Eagles will no doubt try to establish the running game, but Miles Sanders was on the injury report early in the week with a knee injury. Sanders is eligible to play, but the Eagles might give more carries to Kenny Gainwell, who hasn’t had more than 39 yards in a game this season.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
