Eagles’ rushing offense on pace for historic season in 2021

It’s no secret that the Philadelphia Eagles run game is the backbone of this team so far this season.

The Eagles are killing teams on the ground with a lethal trio of Jalen Hurts, Jordan Howard, and Miles Sanders and it could put them in the record books. The Eagles have four games left after the bye week and most of those are against horrible rushing defenses.

Eagles vs. rest of NFL in 2021:

Rushing Yards	Rushing Touchdowns	Yards per game	Yards per carry
2,080 (1st)	19 (t-2nd)	160 (1st)	5 (2nd)

Currently, the Eagles are at the top, if not, second place, in every significant rushing statistic this season. There is nobody close in the league to the level of dominance they have across the board. While they have over 2,000 yards on the season, nobody on their team is projected to eclipse over 1,000 yards individually. 

Eagles projected rushing yards this season:

• Jalen Hurts: 926.4
• Miles Sanders: 809.2
• Jordan Howard: 532

While there is so much praise to go around to the three-headed monster running the football, it couldn’t be achieved without their supporting staff. Philadelphia’s offensive line is dominant in the trenches and has shut down every front seen they have faced. Meanwhile, Nick Sirianni has done a tremendous job drawing up different RPOs, and zone reads based on who’s playing each week.

Currently, the Eagles are on pace for 2,720 yards and 25 touchdowns, which would be the most in franchise history for both statistics. Philadelphia’s best season on the ground was 1949, where they achieved 2,607 yards in just 12 games. 2013 was the best in the modern era, but the 2021 season should beat it out. 

Best rushing seasons in franchise history:

Season	Rushing yards	Rushing Touchdowns	Yards per Game
1949 (12 games)	2,607	25	217.3
2013	2,566	19	160.4
2021 (Projected)	2,720	25	160

Many records are projected to be broken this season due to the expansion from 16 games to 17. However, even if the Eagles played just 16 games this year, they would be nearly identical to that 2013 season, but blow the rushing touchdown numbers out of the water. 

While they’re on pace to match it currently, the Eagles could easily have a better season without the extra game with who they still have to play. According to PFF, Dallas and New York are among the five worst rush defenses in football, with grades below 45.

JALEN HURTS OWNS CARL GRANDERSON’S ANKLES. pic.twitter.com/t5Jw2Ii75c

— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) November 21, 2021

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When the Eagles played Dallas earlier this season, they only ran the football 12 times for 64 yards in a pathetic showing. However, against the Giants, Philly had 208 yards even without Jordan Howard. Those numbers against Dallas were due to their identity being unknown still, with a heavy reliance on passing at the time and will almost certainly change later this season. 

All three of the Eagles’ primary rushers have been battling injuries, so this week’s bye came at the perfect time. But based on how Howard, Sanders, and Hurts are progressing, everyone should be good to go in a crucial battle against Washington next Sunday.

Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports