It's clear the Eagles haven't been as good at that task this season as they were a year ago, when they allowed just 23 sacks, the lowest team total since 1981. The Eagles have already allowed 25 sacks going into today's game against the Washington Redskins.
But how much of that blame belongs to Peters?
According to the STATS Web site, Peters has allowed four sacks in nine games this season. A total of 22 left tackles have played at least nine games this season, and just 11 of those players have allowed four sacks or fewer.
It's impossible to know exactly how accurate those statistics are without watching the film of each player. Sacks allowed can be a subjective statistic.
"When you really break them down and study them, everyone has a little piece of those sacks, and they are distributed across the board with the offensive players and, at times, the coaches," Reid said.
That's true sometimes. Other times, the left tackle is supposed to block the right defensive end and it doesn't get done. It's a difficult job. Ask anyone who has ever spent a Sunday afternoon with Dwight Freeney, Jared Allen or Trent Cole.
That's why the Eagles gave Peters a six-year, $60.6 million deal after they traded for him.
Playing hurt is also a trait that teams look for from their offensive tackles. It was one of the things that made Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas so valuable during their lengthy time together here. Runyan never missed a game, and just three players in franchise history - Brian Dawkins, Harold Carmichael and Chuck Bednarik - have played in more games than Thomas.
