Brandon Graham isn’t ready to fade quietly into the background-and over the past two weeks, he’s made that crystal clear. The veteran edge rusher has turned back the clock at just the right time, giving the Eagles a timely jolt as they push toward January football. After going sackless through the early part of the season, Graham has now recorded three in his last two games-including a takedown in Week 16 against Washington, hot on the heels of a two-sack performance versus the Raiders.
It’s the kind of late-season surge that championship teams often get from their locker room leaders. And make no mistake-Graham is still very much that guy in Philly.
After the Washington win, Graham reflected on how different this year feels from the last, not because the expectations have changed, but because the roster has. He acknowledged that several key players moved on-many of them securing big paydays elsewhere-but credited the Eagles for building real depth behind them. That depth has allowed the team to stay competitive, even as new faces and first-time starters have been asked to step into major roles.
Graham’s message? Stay locked in through “the chaos and the storm.”
That’s what he believes separates contenders from pretenders, and it’s a mindset that’s been tested during a rocky stretch in the middle of the season. The Eagles, after all, hit a skid-a three-game losing streak against the Cowboys, Bears, and Chargers-that threatened to unravel the momentum of their 8-2 start.
But instead of panicking, they recalibrated.
According to Graham, that rough patch wasn’t just adversity-it was part of the process. A necessary step in figuring out who this team really is.
And lately, the identity has started to sharpen again. The 31-0 win over the Raiders wasn’t just a blowout-it was a statement.
The Eagles leaned into the ground game, with Saquon Barkley carrying the load. Even if the run game hasn’t quite replicated last year’s dominance, it’s still a weapon.
Meanwhile, the defense has quietly tightened up, thanks in part to the younger players growing into their roles.
Graham’s perspective is simple but powerful: momentum matters. And now that the Eagles are “in the dance,” there’s no time to take the foot off the gas.
There’s more good news coming, too. According to reports, the Eagles are expecting to get two major pieces back in Week 17 against the Bills-defensive tackle Jalen Carter and right tackle Lane Johnson. That’s a massive boost on both sides of the line, and it couldn’t come at a better time.
With the postseason looming, Philadelphia is starting to look like a team that’s finding its stride when it matters most. And if Brandon Graham keeps playing like this, he might just be the emotional spark-and on-field disruptor-that helps push them over the top.