The running game is always an NFL quarterback’s best friend.

Last week, however, Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz and his ground attack were more than “just friends.” They were sweethearts.

Wentz only had to throw the ball 27 times. He didn’t have to pile up yards in the air and had just 160 in a 34-27 win over the Green Bay Packers.

“It doesn't have to be flashy,” said head coach Doug Pederson about the limited air yards. “Are there times when we're going to have to throw to win? Yeah, we're going to have to do that and we've done that.

“But you also know that when you have the ability to run the ball like we did the other night, good things are going to happen also, and so it takes that pressure off of the quarterback. And Carson's talked about it, I've talked about it and it's been I think a proven recipe league-wide when you can do that.”

Wentz threw three touchdowns, though, and now has nine of those, putting him only one TD pass away from tying Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Jacoby Brissett for the league-lead.

VIDEO: Fletcher Cox on Jets RB Le'Veon Bell



Wentz was also deadly on third down and in the red zone. The Eagles are the league’s top third-down offense, converting those downs into firsts 56.1 percent of the time. They are eighth in the league in red-zone offense, scoring 11 touchdowns on 16 trips there with four field goals.

Against the Packers last week, the Eagles were a perfect four-for-four in the red zone with all touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the Eagles unleashed a punishing ground attack in Green Bay, collecting 176 yards.

“The run game without a doubt takes pressure off me,” said Wentz. “It takes pressure off the whole offense. I think it really opens up some things. We can do some play action, some naked roll outs, different things off the run game because that’s effective.

“I think it opens up a lot of things offensively and makes us a much better and more dynamic offense. If you can stay ahead of the chains and be in third-and-one, third-and-two, third-and-three versus third-and-nine, third-and-10, it makes a heckuva big difference for the offense.”

Now Wentz will try to keep up that love affair with the run game, though Sunday’s opponent, the New York Jets, are a stingy run defense, allowing 3.6 yards per carry.

The pass may be back in vogue this week.

Here is my countdown to kickoff:

GAMETIME: 1 p.m., at Lincoln Financial Field

TV: CBS

5…PLAYERS TO WATCH

Derek Barnett. It was nice to see the third-year pro make a huge play in Green Bay with a strip sack of Aaron Rodgers that set up the Eagles inside the red zone for a touchdown, but the defensive end was limited in practice this week with a groin injury. He has been limited in practice most of the season with something different each time. He’s been listed on previous week’s injury reports with an ankle and shoulder issues.

Rasul Douglas. The last cornerback standing. Every year since Douglas arrived three years ago, the secondary has been hammered by injury. Only Douglas has managed to escape anything serious that required him to miss any time. He’s seems to get a little better with each game he plays.

Orlando Scandrick. The veteran cornerback was signed earlier in the week and will likely play in the slot, with Avonte Maddox expected to miss the game with a concussion and neck injury. It will be intereting to see what, if anything, the 32-year-old Scandrick has left.

Miles Sanders. With a stout run defense, the Eagles may use Sanders more in the pass game. He wasn’t targeted in that area last week, but he made big plays down the field against the Lions. The rookie runner already has 445 all-purpose yards, yet he is still in search of his first career touchdown.

Le’Veon Bell. One of the Jets’ big free agent signings is off to a slow start. The running back missed all of last season and is averaging just 2.9 yards per carry without a rushing score, but is tied for the team-lead in catches with 20 for 121 yards and a touchdown. “Nothing’s changed about him,” said defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. “He’s still the best player on their team. I think after watching him a little bit, he’s their best player. They’re going to give him the ball. It’s going to take everybody on defense to get him on the ground. He’s such a smart runner, he makes guys miss, so we need everybody to the ball.”

4…KEYS TO VICTORY

Start fast. The last thing the Eagles want to do is let the Jets hang around and believe they have a chance to win. Jump out to an early lead and keep the pedal down. Last week, the Eagles had their first lead at halftime, 21-20, against the Packers, but they still have not scored a point in the first quarter in three of their first four games.

Win the turnover battle. A week after going against a Green Bay team that led the league in takeaways, the Eagles will now face the NFL’s fourth-best team at forcing turnovers. The Jets have forced seven turnovers – four interceptions and three fumble recoveries. The Eagles forced two turnovers from the Packers and didn’t give it back. The result: a win.

Know where Jamison Crowder is all the time. The Jets receiver is no stranger to the Eagles after spending his first four years in the league with the Washington Redskins. In eight games against the Eagles while in Washington, Crowder has 24 catches for 252 yards (10.5 yards per catch) with one TD. With the Jets, he has 20 catches for a team-high 164 yards. With a banged up Eagles secondary, that will likely rely on unproven Craig James if Sidney Jones is limited, Crowder could be the next opposing receiver to go over 100 yards against the Eagles.

Get after the quarterback. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Sam Darnold or Luke Falk playing quarterback for New York, the Eagles’ so-far-anemic pass rush should rack up some sacks against a Jets line that has been inconsistent and has allowed 13 sacks in three games. Last week, the Eagles may have had more sacks than the one they got against a lesser quarterback than Aaron Rodgers.

3…FUN FACTS

The Eagles are tied for the third-most touchdown drives (14) in the league, which is their most through four games since 2006, when they also had 14.

The Jets have had just two touchdown drives all season and have scored just 11 points in 12 quarters.

The Eagles are 10-0 against the Jets in the all-time series that dates back to 1973. Those 10 wins are the most wins without a loss by an current team against a single opponent. The Eagles are also 5-0 against the Houston Texans in the all-time series.

2…IMPORTANT MATCHUPS

Eagles secondary against Jets receivers. It feels inconceivable that the Eagles three cornerback will be Douglas. Scandrick and James. Maybe Sidney Jones will play. Still, it’s a unit that doesn’t inspire much confidence. Fortunately, neither do the Jets’ receivers, other than Crowder. Robby Anderson can get deep so he will need to be watched closely, but New York might be without both Demaryius Thomas (shoulder) and Josh Bellamy (shoulder).

Eagles receivers against Jets secondary. The Eagles will play their third straight game without DeSean Jackson, but Alshon Jeffery (pictured above) is healthy again and Mack Hollins is quietly becoming a decent third-down option for Wentz. The Jets’ secondary, though, has had its struggles. Cornerback Trumaine Johnson was accused by head coach Adam Gase of not “loving” the game of football very much.

1…QUOTE

“We pride ourselves on being a good tackling team. We have to limit yards after catch. One thing about this league is they try to spread the ball out, get guys in open space, so you have to be a good tackling team. That’s one thing we’ve been doing well. We have to keep at it this week. We have Le’Veon Bell who is as shifty as any running back in the league. We have to prepare for him and make sure we wrap him up and swarm to the ball.” – Eagles safety Rodney McLeod

0…PREDICTION

It’s time to buckle the chin strap and get back into the win column. I am on a two game slide and my record picking these Eagles games is now 2-2. It’s a concern that the Eagles are severely banged up, especially on defense, where the spate of cornerback injuries has overshadowed, for the moment, the loss of two pivotal defensive tackles in Malik Jackson and Timmy Jernigan. The Eagles’ roster has more talent, though, and the Jets had no idea all week long who their quarterback would be. That’s a combination that should see the Eagles win big.

EAGLES 31, JETS 13