Eagles-Raiders snap counts: Brandon Graham got 2 sacks without even playing much

15 hours ago7 min read

In the meticulous, number-crunching world of NFL analysis, the official snap counts often tell a story far richer than the final score, and the Philadelphia Eagles' Week 15 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders was a masterclass in efficiency and strategic roster management. While the 31-17 win kept playoff hopes firmly alive, the distribution of playing time revealed fascinating subplots, none more compelling than the ageless wonder of defensive end Brandon Graham.The veteran, in what might be his final campaign, authored a performance for the ages on a shockingly limited canvas, logging two sacks and a tackle for loss on just seven defensive snaps—a rate of production that would make even a prime Reggie White nod in approval. It’s the kind of stat line that transcends analytics, speaking to pure instinct and veteran savvy; Graham, like a seasoned closer in baseball, was deployed in high-leverage moments and delivered with brutal efficiency, earning a deserved game ball and reminding everyone that football IQ and motor can sometimes trump sheer volume of opportunity.This wasn't an isolated incident of veteran heroics, however. The defensive snap counts overall painted a picture of a unit finally catching its breath, with no Eagle defender exceeding 39 plays—a welcome respite for Vic Fangio's group, which had been run into the ground during a grueling mid-season stretch.The continued emergence of second-year defensive tackle Moro Ojomo, who notched another sack to bring his season total to five in Jalen Carter's absence, provides a crucial interior complement, while the linebacker rotation saw rookie Jihaad Campbell continue to siphon snaps from Nakobe Dean, signaling a possible changing of the guard. Offensively, the narrative was one of workload management and curious deployment.Left tackle Jordan Mailata, the lone ironman to have played every offensive snap this season, finally got a fourth-quarter breather, a small but significant victory for longevity. Yet, the usage of skill players raised eyebrows.While Dallas Goedert dominated targets and found the end zone twice, superstar wideout A. J.Brown was curiously quiet, seeing only two official targets despite playing nearly every snap—a strategic puzzle opposing coordinators will note. The backfield told its own tale, with Tank Bigsby receiving a season-high 17 carries and nearly scoring, while offseason acquisition Will Shipley languished with just four snaps even in extended garbage time, a stark indication of his current standing.Special teams offered its own quirky milestone, as the Eagles remained undefeated with long snapper Charley Hughlett active, seemingly breaking the so-called 'Cal Adomitis curse' with Jake Elliott's perfect kicking. Looking ahead, the inactive list looms large: the potential returns of Lane Johnson and Jalen Carter could dramatically reshape both lines for a critical playoff push, while the continued presence of A.

#Philadelphia Eagles

#Las Vegas Raiders

#snap counts

#Brandon Graham

#defensive performance

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