All it takes is one big game to boost a particular statistical category.
In this case: Sacks.
Heading into the Monday night loss at the Los Angeles Chargers, the Philadelphia Eagles trailed the Las Vegas Raiders in total sacks 24 to 26. Then came a seven-sack evening for Philly and now they have 31 total heading into this Sunday’s home date with incoming Las Vegas. The leap in production now puts the Eagles at 16th in terms of total quarterback takedowns while the Raiders are ranked 23rd out of the 32 teams.
While Vic Fangio’s Eagles defense has been lighting up the stat sheet with sacks, it’s a group that creates havoc by pressuring opposing quarterbacks.
Philadelphia has 123 pressures, the fifth most in the NFL, according to Pro Football Reference. That mark trails the Dallas Cowboys (163), Seattle Seahawks (159), Denver Broncos (143), Indianapolis Colts (135) and Los Angeles Rams (125). The Raiders, meanwhile, are near the league cellar with just 86 pressures, good for 28th.
Expect the Eagles (8-5 overall, first place in the NFC East) to be salivating over Sunday’s home date with the incoming Raiders (2-11, last place in AFC West) as the Silver & Black are giving up the most sacks this season with 50 heading into Week 15 action. In the last four games, Las Vegas surrendered a whopping 28 sacks with usual starting quarterback Geno Smith sustaining 27 of them (three in Week 14, five Week 14, and a staggering 10 in Week 12). Backup Kenny Pickett, who is in line to start in Philadelphia, was sacked once in relief duty last week.
The Eagle are coming off a disappointing Monday night loss to the Bolts and are likely to take out their frustrations on the worst team in the AFC West. So expect Fangio to activate middle linebacker Nakobe Dean (a sack, two quarterback hits, seven total tackles) on blitzes this Sunday. The 5-foot-11 and 231-pound Georgia product was a menace and had an impressive bulldozing of Chargers’ running back Omarion Hampton en route to a strip sack of quarterback Justin Herbert this past Monday night.
But Dean is one of many defenders who can wreck an offense and the Raiders must be ready to contend with not only the linebacker, but an interior pass rush paced by defensive tackle Jordan Davis, who is tied for the team-lead in sacks at 4.5. Linebacker Jalyx Hunt is right there with 4.5 with Dean following with four. Defensive tackle Moro Ojomo also has four while linebacker Zack Baun has 3.5.
By The NumbersPass Rush
- Philadelphia Eagles defense: 31 sacks
- Sack Leader: Defensive Tackle Jordan Davis, 4.5; Linebacker Jalyx Hunt 4.5
- Las Vegas Raiders defense: 26 sacks
- Sack Leader: Defensive end Maxx Crosby, 9
Philadelphia’s ability to make a noisy pocket, Raiders interim offensive coordinator Greg Olson knows his quarterback must be able to improvise. And Pickett — who was with the Eagles in 2024 — showcased that ability when Smith left the game with hand and shoulder ailments. And, quite honestly, trotting out an ailing Smith against a salivating pass rush isn’t the best idea.
“Well, really, he’s shown mobility. Even in college, he did a lot of things there with his legs. So, he gives us that part of his game, maybe, not that Geno isn’t mobile, but the ability to escape and run and create and do some of those things,” Olson said when asked what Pickett brings to the table that allows the play caller to do something different. “So, that’s what we saw, obviously, Sunday, and we expect that going forward, and that’s part of his game and part of who he was as a player when he came out of college.”
Sunday’s clash in Philly will test Olson and company thoroughly. The offensive line will be the focal point and the group’s performance (or lack thereof) will dictate the pace. Rookie Caleb Rogers played well against the Denver Broncos and another steady performance is required. Las Vegas needs to get a semblance of a run game going and Olson should have screen passes at the ready to try and quell Fangio’s natural front four pressure and blitzes. Getting rookie running back Ashton Jeanty in space in the air attack has proved quite fruitful for the Raiders when they go that route (259 yards and four touchdowns; 16 receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown the last three games).
All of which are much easier said than done.
Quote of Note
“Come on. I mean, he had one bad game turning the ball. He’s been protecting the ball pretty well. I think whatever the ratio was before the game, he had 19 touchdowns to two picks, or something like that. I mean, he’s a world champ quarterback. Led his team twice to the Super Bowl. He’s won. He’s been a winner his whole career. So, again, our job is to try to frustrate and make it hard on the quarterback, but at this point, he’s seen a bunch. I was at the Giants when he first got into the league. So, he’s even familiar with stuff I’ve thrown at him in the past. So, the biggest thing is try to make it hard on him. You’re trying to make it be all inclusive, so whether you’re tying in the front disguise, the coverage disguise, you’re trying to force all 11 to be on the same page. That’s really the sign of, when you’re really trying to trick somebody, you kind of force all 11 to be on the same page. So, that’s a key when you get to the passing situations, and then the best thing you could do is minimize the run game, because any good quarterback will tell you a good run game is going to definitely help you in the pass game.”
—Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham when asked about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ surge of turnovers last Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday’s matchup marks the 15th meeting between the Raiders and Eagles. The all-time series is tied at seven, apiece (the Silver & Black are 6-7 in regular season play; 1-0 in postseason action). The last time the two teams met was in October of 2021 with Las Vegas rolling to a 33-22 win inside Allegiant Stadium. That was a contest where the Raiders held a commanding 30-7 lead in the third quarter. Before that, however, Philadelphia won back-to-back meetings in 2017 and 2013. The latter matchup being quarterback Nick Foles’ seven touchdowns thrown outing in a 49-20 victory.
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