Jordan Howard pulled a throwback Brian Dawkins sweater over his head, turned to face the cameras, and broke from the “just another game” script he’d stuck to earlier this week.
The Eagles running back was going up against the Chicago Bears, the team he spent his first three seasons with before Chicago traded him for a late-round draft pick.
Going into the game, Howard downplayed the meaning of playing his former team, saying it was just like any other week. But, after the Eagles’ 22-14 win over the Bears, Howard conceded there were some noticeable differences.
“I did a little bit more talking than I usually do,” Howard said. “Just a little back and forth with the guys, but everything else was normal. It was definitely a little strange, because I didn’t really go up against them that much in practice, they never really tackled me, so it was strange.”
Howard represented himself well against his former team on Sunday, rushing for 82 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries. Howard gained more yards on the ground than the Bears’ entire rushing attack, which managed just 62 yards, mostly from running back David Montgomery and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
Howard’s 13-yard touchdown run gave the Eagles a 19-0 lead in the third quarter. He ran through a gaping hole created by the Eagles offensive line, which dominated the Bears’ defensive front.
“I saw a big hole, I just tried to hit it as fast as I could,” Howard said. " ... The line has been doing a great job all season, but they’ve just been taking it to another level."
Clearly well-studied on his 2000s Eagles history, Howard said he almost made a mistake akin to DeSean Jackson’s goal-line fumble in 2008.
“I almost pulled a D-Jack,” Howard said. “I almost tossed the ball too early. I’m glad I crossed the line before I threw it back, but it was great.”
Howard said there wasn’t any motivation to prove the Bears’ front office wrong.
Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky gets taken after getting sacked by the Eagles defense during the second-quarter on Sunday, November 3, 2019 in Philadelphia.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles cornerback Rasul Douglas forces a kick-off fumble on Chicago Bears tight end Adam Shaheen late in the fourth-quarter on Sunday, November 3, 2019 in Philadelphia.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat stops Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery during the second-quarter on Sunday, November 3, 2019 in Philadelphia.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz runs past Chicago Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack during the fourth-quarter on Sunday, November 3, 2019 in Philadelphia.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles tight end Zach Ertz yells after catching the football for a first-down in the first-quarter against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, November 3, 2019 in Philadelphia.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles nose tackle Anthony Rush (right) and linebacker T.J. Edwards stop Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery during the second-quarter on Sunday, November 3, 2019 in Philadelphia.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert runs for first down over Chicago Bears strong safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (bottom) and free safety Eddie Jackson (right) late in the fourth-quarter on Sunday, November 3, 2019 in Philadelphia.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller, right, breaks up a pass intended for Eagles wide receiver Nelson Agholor, left, in the 2nd quarter. The Philadelphia Eagles play the Chicago Bears at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA on November 3, 2019.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, center, reacts after he was hit while sliding at the end of a run against the Eagles in the 2nd quarter. The Philadelphia Eagles play the Chicago Bears at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA on November 3, 2019.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
An Eagles fan watches in the 4th quarter as they play the Bears. The Philadelphia Eagles win 22-14 over the Chicago Bears at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA on November 3, 2019.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles running back Miles Sanders runs past Chicago Bears free safety Eddie Jackson and inside linebacker Danny Trevathan (right) during the first-quarter on Sunday, November 3, 2019 in Philadelphia.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles offensive guard Brandon Brooks, left, blocks on a run play in the 4th quarter against the Bears. The Philadelphia Eagles win 22-14 over the Chicago Bears at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA on November 3, 2019.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles tight end Zach Ertz runs with the football past Chicago Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack during the third-quarter on Sunday, November 3, 2019 in Philadelphia.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles wide receiver Nelson Agholor, right, misses a 3rd quarter pass as Chicago Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara, left, defends. The Philadelphia Eagles win 22-14 over the Chicago Bears at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA on November 3, 2019.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, right, tackles Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen, short of the end zone. The Philadelphia Eagles win 22-14 over the Chicago Bears at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA on November 3, 2019.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles tight end Zach Ertz ran for 14 yards after catching a short pass from Wentz in the third quarter Sunday, November 3, 2019 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles Rasul Douglas, left, knocks the ball out of Bears kick returner, Adam Shaeen, right, that was recoverd by the eagles to ensure the victory over the Bears 22-14 at Lincoln Financial Field on November 3, 2019.Read moreMICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer
Eagles running back Miles Sanders, top, ends up on his back and on top off ChicagoÕs Prince Amukamara as he ran far enough for a first down in the final drive to keep the eagles moving toward their win over Chicago 22-14 at Lincoln Financial Field on November 3, 2019.Read moreMICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, right, scrambles for positive yardage as he is being tackled by ChicagoÕs Leonard Flyod, left, during the final fourth quarter drive that sealed the Eagles win over the Bears 22-14 at Lincoln Financial Field on November 3, 2019.Read moreMICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer
Eagles tight end Zach Ertz reaches for the extra yardage after being hit by ChicagoÕs Sherrick McManis, right, and made enough for a first down and kept the final drive alive against the Chicago Bears at Lincoln Financial Field on November 3, 2019.Read moreMICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer
Eagles Rodney McLeod, bottom and Kamu Grugier-Hill, top, double up to take down Chicago running back David Montgomery, left, in the fourth quarter of the Eagles 22-14 win at Lincoln Financial Field on November 3, 2019.Read moreMICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz gains yardage at the beginning of the second quarter of the game with Chicago Bears defensive tackle Nick Williams nearby on Sunday, November 3, 2019 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (Clock time on this play 14:31, 3rd and 7 yards)Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles tight end Zach Ertz leaps into the air against Chicago Bears free safety Eddie Jackson during the second quarter on Sunday, November 3, 2019 against the Chicago Bears at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Ertz makes a 25 yard touchdown.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles Duke Riley (holding the football) celebrates with his teammates, after recovering the the kick-off fumble late in the game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, November 3, 2019 in Philadelphia.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, left, shares a moment with ChicagoÕs quarterback Mitchell Trubinsky, right , after the Eagles beat the Beats 22-14, at Lincoln Financial Field on November 3, 2019.Read moreMICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer
“I don’t need any validation from anybody,” Howard said. “Whatever they do, I don’t worry about that. I’m here now, so there’s nothing for me to worry about."
He may not have been looking to show the Eagles that they got a bargain, but that’s exactly what he did. He followed up a 96-yard performance against the Buffalo Bills with Sunday’s showing against the Bears.
The Eagles have begun leaning on him more recently, and he’s rewarded them with his productive, forward-falling running style. Howard is averaging 4.4 yard per attempt, and came into Sunday getting 2.6 yards after contact per attempt.
By comparison, Montgomery — a first-round pick in last year’s draft — is averaging 3.6 yards per attempt and the Bears offense has struggled.
Howard missed part of the Eagles’ final drive, and said he got banged up late, but wouldn’t say what was ailing him. He’ll have some time off, though, as the Eagles go into their bye week.
“I feel like we’re in a great spot, coming off two wins,” Howard said. “We get to rest up, get some guys healthy. We can get on a roll.”
