Brandon Graham isn’t just hanging on in his 14th NFL season - he’s still out here making plays that matter. Over the past two weeks, the veteran edge rusher has reminded everyone in Philadelphia - and across the league - that he can still be a game-changer. After going sackless through the first 14 weeks, Graham has now notched three in his last two games, including a two-sack performance against the Raiders and another takedown in Week 16 against Washington.
That kind of production isn’t just a feel-good story for a longtime Eagle - it’s timely. With the playoffs around the corner, Graham’s late-season surge is giving Philly a little extra juice at just the right moment.
After the win, Graham reflected on how different this year feels from last season’s run. He talked about the roster turnover - the departures, the big contracts, the new faces stepping into bigger roles.
But he also gave credit where it’s due: to the Eagles’ front office for building the kind of depth that can weather change without losing momentum. That depth is starting to show, especially on defense, where younger players are beginning to find their footing.
Graham didn’t sugarcoat the bumps along the way. He referenced the Eagles’ midseason slide - a three-game losing streak to the Cowboys, Bears, and Chargers - that knocked them off the rhythm of an 8-2 start.
That stretch, he said, was part of the process. A necessary recalibration.
And now, with back-to-back wins, the Eagles are starting to look like themselves again.
The 31-0 shutout of the Raiders was a statement. It wasn’t just about the score - it was about how they got there.
The offense leaned on Saquon Barkley and the ground game, which may not be as dominant as it was a year ago, but still packs enough punch to control tempo. On the other side of the ball, the defense is tightening up, with the younger core settling into their roles and playing with confidence.
For Graham, it’s all about momentum. He knows the playoffs are a different beast, and now that the Eagles are “in the dance,” there’s no room to let up. The urgency is real, and the team’s recent play suggests they know it too.
And just in time for a critical Week 17 matchup against the Bills, reinforcements are on the way. According to Adam Schefter, defensive tackle Jalen Carter and right tackle Lane Johnson are both expected to return. That’s a massive boost on both sides of the line - Carter’s presence up front has been disruptive all year, and Johnson remains one of the best in the business at protecting the edge.
With Graham heating up, the defense finding its form, and key veterans returning to the trenches, the Eagles are starting to look like a team that’s ready to make noise in January. And if Brandon Graham has anything to say about it, they’re just getting started.