Eagles Snap Counts: Brandon Graham continues to make an impact, offense remains steady and efficient

The Eagles clinched the NFC East on Saturday with a 29-18 win over Washington, and buried inside the snap counts was one of the most absurdly efficient performances you’ll see from a defensive lineman all season.

Offensively, the Eagles were able to rest starters late, which is exactly where you want to be in Week 16. Jalen Hurts played 66 of 70 snaps and was steady, efficient, and mistake-free.

Saquon Barkley handled the bulk of the workload and looked as explosive as he has all season, ripping off 132 yards and a touchdown while turning what should have been a loss into a 48-yard run.

Tank Bigsby added a physical punch of his own and continues to make the case for more touches as the Eagles try to keep Barkley fresh.

The receiving corps feasted on Washington’s man coverage. AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith combined for 15 catches and consistently got separation.

Dallas Goedert tied a franchise record with his 10th touchdown of the season, making the most of limited targets and reminding everyone how important he is in the red zone.

Up front, Jordan Mailata and Fred Johnson were the only offensive players to log all 70 snaps, while the rest of the line rotated late. Lane Johnson warming up before the game is a good sign, and getting him back against Buffalo would be another massive boost.

Snap Counts: Eagles Offense

Graham, who is 37 years old and was technically retired when the 2025 season began, played just nine defensive snaps. On those nine snaps, he recorded a sack.

That gives him three sacks over the last two games on just 16 total snaps. Even crazier, all three sacks have come over a span of nine defensive plays.

There is not another player in the league doing anything close to that. Graham is currently the only NFL player with three sacks on fewer than 100 snaps this season, and all of his damage has come lining up inside at defensive tackle while the Eagles wait for Jalen Carter to return. This isn’t a nostalgia tour or a ceremonial victory lap. Graham is legitimately impacting games.

What makes it even more impressive is how the Eagles are deploying him. Thirteen of Graham’s 16 snaps over the last two weeks have come on third downs, and when he’s on the field, chaos follows.

Those snaps have produced three Graham sacks, two interceptions by the defense, another sack by Nolan Smith, six incompletions, and just nine total rushing yards allowed.

There has been exactly one meaningful offensive gain allowed with Graham out there, a single 20-yard completion. That’s it.

Even when Carter comes back, it would be malpractice to shelve this package. Graham’s interior pass rush juice on obvious passing downs is very real, and it’s something the Eagles should absolutely keep leaning on in January.

Snap Counts: Eagles Defense

Beyond Graham, the snap counts told a pretty clear story about where this team is heading into the playoffs.

The Eagles played 54 total snaps on defense and rotated heavily late. Zack Baun, Reed Blankenship, and Quinyon Mitchell all played over 90 percent of the defensive snaps, while Cooper DeJean and Marcus Epps were right behind them.

Without Carter, the interior rotation was led by Moro Ojomo and Jordan Davis, with Byron Young and Graham mixing in effectively. That group has quietly held the line during Carter’s absence, and when he returns healthy, the Eagles’ interior becomes a real problem for opposing offenses.

At linebacker, Nakobe Dean’s night ended early after just 13 snaps due to a hamstring injury, but rookie Jihaad Campbell stepped in and logged 36 snaps, his most since early in the season. Campbell has handled a reduced role all year with professionalism, and performances like this are why the Eagles are comfortable with their depth.

The Eagles are healthy enough, deep enough, and versatile enough to adjust on the fly. And Brandon Graham, somehow, is still very much part of the plan. Nine snaps. One sack. Third straight week of making a real impact. At this point, Brandon Graham isn’t just hanging on. He’s forcing the Eagles to keep finding ways to put him on the field.

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