Eagles Snap Count Takeaways: Week 15 Win Over Raiders Offers Rest, Rotation, and a Flash of Vintage BG
The Philadelphia Eagles handled business in Week 15 with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders, and the snap counts tell a deeper story than the scoreboard. With the game well in hand by the fourth quarter, Nick Sirianni and his staff took the opportunity to rotate players, rest some key contributors, and get a few younger faces on the field. Let’s break down what stood out on both sides of the ball.
Offense: Goedert Stars, Bigsby Grinds, and Mailata Finally Gets a Breather
Coming into Week 15, Jordan Mailata had been the ironman of the Eagles' offense-logging every single snap this season. That streak finally came to an end, but not due to injury or performance.
With the game in control, Mailata got a well-earned break, and Matt Pryor stepped in at left tackle during the fourth quarter. It’s a small but meaningful moment in a long season, especially for a player who anchors the blind side.
Fred Johnson and rookie Tyler Steen were the only offensive starters who played every snap. That consistency up front helped the offense move the ball efficiently, and it gave Jalen Hurts clean pockets for most of the game.
Speaking of production, Dallas Goedert was the engine of the passing game. He led the team in targets (7), receptions (6), yards (70), and touchdowns (2). When Hurts needed a go-to option, it was Goedert who answered the call-especially in the red zone, where his size and route-running continue to be a nightmare for opposing linebackers.
A.J. Brown was right behind Goedert in snaps but saw just two targets on the stat sheet-three if you count the defensive pass interference he drew on the opening drive. That penalty helped set the tone early, but it was a relatively quiet day otherwise for the star wideout.
DeVonta Smith also saw just two targets, and Jahan Dotson didn’t see a single one for the third time in 14 games. Whether that’s a product of game script, defensive coverage, or just the way the ball bounced, it’s something to monitor heading into the final stretch of the season.
Rookie running back Tank Bigsby got the biggest workload of his young career with 17 carries for 57 yards. While the 3.4 yards per carry average won’t jump off the page, he ran with purpose and came within inches of his first career touchdown. The Eagles leaned on him heavily in the second half, even with garbage time opportunities available for others.
One of the more encouraging signs came from Darius Cooper, who set a personal best with 29 receiving yards and drew a key pass interference penalty that helped set up a goal-to-go situation. It’s incremental progress, but it’s the kind of development you want to see from a young receiver this time of year.
Cameron Latu continues to serve as a hybrid tight end/fullback, a role that’s becoming more defined as the season progresses.
In the trenches, Brett Toth came in at left guard in garbage time, replacing Landon Dickerson. Drew Kendall also got some work at center, stepping in for Cam Jurgens.
And with the game all but over, Tanner McKee took over at quarterback for Jalen Hurts. No surprises there-just smart roster management.
One curious note: Will Shipley only saw four snaps and didn’t touch the ball, even in garbage time. Instead, the Eagles stuck with Bigsby deep into the fourth quarter. Whether that’s a reflection of trust, rhythm, or something else, it’s worth keeping an eye on.
Also of note, Britain Covey logged his first offensive snaps of the season, all in garbage time. His last offensive appearance came back in Week 13 of 2024, so this was more about getting him some live reps than anything else.
Defense: Light Workload, Veteran Efficiency, and a Few Emerging Names
The Eagles' defense didn’t have to do too much heavy lifting in this one. No player logged more than 39 snaps, a welcome change after several weeks of being leaned on heavily. That rest could pay dividends down the stretch.
Cooper DeJean and Zack Baun remain ironmen on this side of the ball, still tied for the most defensive snaps played this season. Baun continues to be a steady presence at linebacker, while DeJean’s versatility in the secondary has been a major asset.
At safety, Marcus Epps continues to get the nod over Sydney Brown. That’s been the trend for a few weeks now, and it doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.
With Jalen Carter still sidelined, Moro Ojomo has stepped up in a big way. He notched another sack in this one, bringing his season total to five. He’s becoming more than just a fill-in-he’s producing at a high level and giving the Eagles quality snaps inside.
Nakobe Dean played slightly fewer snaps than Baun, with rookie Jihaad Campbell rotating in. The Eagles are clearly trying to balance development and production at linebacker, and Campbell’s growing role reflects that.
Jaelan Phillips didn’t register a tackle, but don’t let that fool you-he made his presence felt. He had two pass deflections, including one that stopped a fourth-down attempt, and added a pair of quarterback hits. Disruptive plays like those don’t always show up in the box score, but they impact games.
Nolan Smith continues to flash since coming off injured reserve. He’s now up to three sacks in six games, showing the speed and bend that made him a first-round pick.
And then there’s Brandon Graham. The veteran needed just seven snaps to notch two sacks and a tackle for loss.
That’s right-seven snaps. Efficiency like that is rare, and the Eagles rewarded him with a game ball.
At this point in his career, BG is more than just a locker room leader-he’s still a game-changer in short bursts.
Ty Robinson remains on the fringe of the rotation as the fifth defensive tackle, seeing limited snaps with Carter out.
Andre’ Sam made a little history of his own, logging his first regular season defensive snaps in the NFL. It’s a small milestone, but a meaningful one for the rookie.
Special Teams: Elliott Stays Perfect, Mann Gets the Day Off (Almost)
Jake Elliott continues to be automatic, and the combination with long snapper Charley Hughlett remains flawless. Since Hughlett joined the active roster, the Eagles haven’t missed a kick-and they haven’t lost a game.
Coincidence? Maybe.
But it’s the kind of good luck charm you don’t mess with.
Braden Mann only had to punt once, the second time this season that’s happened. When your punter’s barely breaking a sweat, your offense is doing its job.
Inactives and Injury Notes
The Eagles were without several key players in Week 15: Lane Johnson, Jalen Carter, Joshua Uche, A.J. Dillon, Mac McWilliams, and Sam Howell were all inactive.
There’s optimism that Johnson could return to practice this week. If he’s not ready for Week 16, Week 17 looks like a realistic target.
As for Carter, there’s no firm timetable. With Ojomo holding things down inside, there’s no need to rush the star rookie back into action.
Bottom Line:
Week 15 was the kind of game the Eagles needed-not just a win, but a chance to rest starters, evaluate depth, and get contributions from all corners of the roster. With the playoffs looming, that kind of balanced performance could go a long way.