Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will face a savvy, sack-hungry Philadelphia front
For the second time in four games, Trevor Lawrence will face an elite defensive line with a taste for quarterbacks when the Jaguars play at Philadelphia on Sunday (1 p.m., CBS).
His offensive line has kept him mostly upright this season, with only two sacks this season and none in the last two games, both victories for the Jags (2-1). He was flushed from the pocket only twice against the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday and threw a touchdown pass to Zay Jones on one of them in a 38-10 victory.
The two sacks of Lawrence came against the Washington Commanders in the opening game and the NFC East is loaded with pass rushers in the early going of the season. The Jags will play Dallas and the New York Giants later this season.
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The Eagles (3-0) had nine sacks in last week's 24-8 victory over the Commanders and with 12 overall, are second in the NFL behind Dallas (13). Washington is tied for 10th with eight.
No other division has three teams among the top-10 in the league.
Lawrence said that the emphasis on rushing the passer in the NFL means going against good players off the edge — with a few blitzing linebackers and defensive backs to boot — almost every game.
"You've got to play a good pass rush, whether it's interior, exterior, on the edges or both," Lawrence said on Wednesday after a soggy practice at TIAA Bank Field. "I think this team [the Eagles] presents some challenges ... on the outside and inside."
Philadelphia is led by end Brandon Graham and tackle Fletcher Cox with three sacks each and end Josh Sweatt has 2.5.
Graham, in his 13th season, and Cox, in his 11th, show no signs of slowing down. Both played for Jaguars coach Doug Pederson at Philadelphia from 2016-20.
"Great pass rush," Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said. "They can do it with four, they can do it with five, [or] a combination of the two. Fletch is still Fletch ... he can push the pocket. Josh Sweat is playing good ... and you know BG [Graham], watch him. He's a guy that can get on your pads and push the pocket.
Lawrence said the Jaguars have attacked good pass rushers two ways this season: a game plan, such as the one against the Indianapolis Colts in a 24-0 victory on Sept. 18, or simply straight-up will by the offensive line and blocking backs.
Pederson devised a scheme to get the ball out of Lawrence's hand as quickly as possible to neutralize the Colts. It helped the Jags last week that the Chargers' Joey Bosa was injured early but it was still another stellar game for the line.
What happens against the Eagles might be a hybrid of both.
"It's game-planning ... putting us in the best position," Lawrence said. "The way our group has played up front, I've got all the confidence in them. I think the way we've executed the last couple of game plans has been great."
Contact Garry Smits at gsmits@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @GSmitter
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sack-happy Eagles will give Jaguars Trevor Lawrence another stern test
