Brandon Graham is 37 years old. Let’s start there. Because on Sunday, he didn’t look like it.
In a game that saw the Eagles defense absolutely smother the Raiders in a 31-0 shutout, the longtime Philly pass rusher showed he’s still got gas in the tank-and maybe a little something extra. Graham notched his first two sacks of the season, and he did it from a spot that’s new territory for him: the interior of the defensive line.
With Jalen Carter sidelined after undergoing procedures on both shoulders, Graham slid inside to help fill the void. It wasn’t the role he-or the Eagles-had in mind when he came out of retirement back in late October.
At the time, the plan was for him to provide some veteran depth off the edge, especially with the defensive line banged up. But as the rust wore off and the team’s needs shifted, Graham answered the call without hesitation.
And on Sunday, he delivered.
Both of Graham’s sacks came from the interior, where he lined up primarily against Raiders guard Caleb Rogers. On his first, a 3rd-and-8 late in the first quarter, Graham bull-rushed Rogers straight into the pocket, then disengaged and wrapped up Kenny Pickett as the quarterback tried to escape. The play was partially negated by penalties-one of them a roughness call on Cooper DeJean-but the Eagles’ defense clamped down again shortly after, with Moro Ojomo getting to Pickett on the very next set of downs.
The second sack was textbook Brandon Graham power. On 3rd-and-6 in the second quarter, Pickett dropped back from the shotgun, and Graham once again overpowered Rogers, collapsing the pocket and grabbing Pickett by the ankle.
That was all he needed. The veteran yanked the quarterback down with one arm, forcing a punt and setting up a short-field touchdown drive that put the Eagles up 17-0 before halftime.
From that point on, it was all Eagles. Zack Baun came out of the locker room and picked off Pickett on the Raiders’ first possession of the second half, and the game never got close. The defense stayed aggressive, the offense stayed efficient, and the Raiders never found a rhythm.
Graham did take one shot-getting chipped hard by tight end Michael Mayer-but he laughed it off afterward in the locker room.
“He got me,” Graham said, flashing that signature grin. “But it looked worse than it felt.”
That’s classic Brandon Graham. Still smiling, still grinding, still making plays in Year 16. And now, doing it from a different spot on the line.
“It gets on you quicker,” Graham said of rushing from the inside. “You gotta make your move faster.
But it’s something that I’m used to. I’m thankful to be able to come in and help whenever I can.”
He made it clear he’s excited for Jalen Carter to return-“can’t wait to see JC when he gets back”-but he also gave props to the rest of the unit, calling out Jordan Davis and Byron Young for their contributions. The Eagles’ defensive line, top to bottom, played fast and physical on Sunday. And Graham, the oldest of the bunch, looked right at home.
“Feel like my training camp has been over with now,” he said. “I’m just trying to contribute, if it’s on the field or off the field, whatever it is.”
That’s the thing about Brandon Graham. Whether he’s chasing quarterbacks, mentoring younger players, or just bringing energy to the locker room, he finds a way to impact the game. And on Sunday, he did all of the above-at a position he didn’t expect to play, in a role he didn’t plan for, at an age when most players are long gone from the league.
But Graham’s still here. Still moving. And maybe, just maybe, moving quicker than ever.