Montez Sweat believes Washington duo can break combined sack record

Washington Football Team defensive end Montez Sweat believes that he and Chase Young can break the combined sack record in 2021. The current record is 39 sacks, set by Vikings teammates Chris Doleman and Keith Millard in 1989.

“We talk all the time about breaking records and stuff like that,” Sweat told reporters Tuesday. “I personally want to go get the combined sack record that the guys got back before. We talk about it all the time.”

The dynamic duo

The young pass rushing duo has just three years of combined experience in the NFL and 23.5 sacks between them. But as they enter 2021, there is optimism about their continued progress.

Sweat has started all 32 games since entering the league in 2019 and saw an increase in sacks, tackles for loss and quarterback hits in year two. With nine sacks on 31 quarterback pressures and 11 quarterback knockdowns in 2020, he is looking to up his production this season.

Young became an instant star in the NFL. In his rookie season, he was named AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and made the 2020 Pro Bowl roster. Young finished the season with 44 tackles and 7.5 sacks on 24 quarterback pressures.

Despite just 16.5 combined sacks in 2020, Sweat remains confident in his logic behind the goal.

“Because we’re both dynamic players,” Sweat explained. “That’s all. We got two dynamic players on one line. You can make things happen.”

The Washington defense

Washington has more than two dynamic players on the line. The team combines two elite young pass rushers with a pair of explosive defensive tackles in Jonathan Allen and Da’Ron Payne.

Allen was converted from defensive end to tackle when the new coaching staff transitioned from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 defense. The move paid off for the fifth-year player, who recently signed a long-term extension with the team. He is also a candidate for a breakout season with three straight seasons with 60 or more tackles and 17 career sacks.

Payne enters his fourth season with impressive pass rushing numbers from the nose tackle spot. He has 10 career sacks and 20 quarterback hits in his career.

In all, the Washington defensive line is both young and talented, with plenty of potential for improvement. The team continues to build around the defense under coach Ron Rivera with investment in the defensive backfield this offseason.

Image courtesy of Patrick McDermott/Getty Images