The Washington Football Team has, arguably, the best pair of pass-rushers in the NFL in Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Young, the reigning NFL defensive rookie of the year, finished with 7.5 sacks in 2020, while Sweat finished with nine sacks in his second season.
Now, the duo has even bigger goals in 2021.
After practice on Tuesday, Sweat met with the local media and said he and Young frequently discuss breaking the combined sack record by a pair of teammates.
“We talk about it all the time, breaking records and stuff like that,” Sweat said, per Ethan Cadeaux of NBC Sports Washington. “I personally want to go get the combined sack record that the guys got back before. We talk about it all the time.”
The combined sack record by a pair of teammates belongs to Chris Doleman and Keith Millard of the Minnesota Vikings, set in 1989. Doleman and Millard combined for 39 sacks that season.
Montez Sweat offered up a season goal for him and Chase Young: Set the record for sacks by a duo. Why not? pic.twitter.com/EvcRR0QW6K
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) August 10, 2021
Talentwise, there’s no doubt Young and Sweat could approach that record. However, playing on a defensive line that also includes Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, Daron Payne and Tim Settle — all interior rushers — could impact Young and Sweat’s numbers.
Regardless of whether or not Washington’s dynamic duo breaks the combined sack record in 2021, the Football Team should still be one of the top defensive units in the NFL.