Leading The Way

PHILADELPHIA – Opponent notwithstanding, the Eagles’ defense flat-out imposed its will against a listless Raiders offense, holding the unit to 75 total yards over four quarters. It qualified as the Eagles’ lowest total allowed since 1955, when they allowed a combined 49 yards to the Chicago Cardinals.

Helmed by defensive mastermind Vic Fangio, a swarming Eagles defense bullied the Las Vegas Raiders to the point of being non-competitive. It’s a testament to the constant communication and devotion to assignment sound football, as well as coming together as a unit.

As Fangio mentions, that kind of performance is rare. Yes, it was the Raiders, who entered Sunday having won just two games, but that should hardly discredit what the Eagles accomplished. They did what they were supposed to do with the talent and ability they have as a collective, and took them to task.

Some key takeaways from Fangio’s Wednesday availability.

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: Eagles RB Saquon Barkley goes through a positional drill at Wednesday’s pratice at the Linc.

Update on injured rookie

In the absence of injured rookie safety Drew Mukuba, who suffered a fractured ankle Week 12 against the Cowboys and was placed on injured reserve Nov. 26, Fangio managed to steady the ship by inserting veteran Marcus Epps as his replacement. Fangio has lauded Epps for his experience, instincts and feel for the game, and Epps in two starts has responded by effectively communicating and being assignment sound.

But Mukuba, who was never officially declared out for the season despite the timing and grim nature of the injury, is technically eligible to return next week. Fangio, however, poured cold water on the sentiment.

“He might be eligible to come off, but he isn’t coming off,” he said.

With Mukuba sidelined indefinitely, the Eagles appear intent on rolling with Epps alongside Reed Blankenship, with third-year pro Sydney Brown rounding out the group. Veteran defensive back Michael Carter can also moonlight at the position and Andre’ Sam – out of practice squad elevations – remains in the fold on the practice squad.

Brandon Graham’s versatility

Against the Chargers, Brandon Graham logged 30 snaps, playing exclusively inside in light of the week-to-week absence of defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Graham, according to Fangio, played well in a game in which more was demanded, suggesting the veteran could conceivably carve out a permanent role inside for the remainder of the season.

The 37-year-old played just seven snaps against the Raiders a week later, but managed to corral QB Kenny Pickett for a pair of sacks, much to Fangio’s approval.

“He’s done a good job in there,” he said. “We didn’t have a lot of plays last week, but we’re confident and comfortable playing him in there.”

As for whether Graham’s moonlighting would be permanent, even when Carter returns to the fold, Fangio’s answer conveyed uncertainty, suggesting Graham may toggle inside and outside when the interior group returns to full strength.

“We’ll see,” he said. “I think he’ll float back and forth.”

Big picture takeaway

As mentioned, the Eagles’ defense showcased dominance against a Raiders offense that couldn’t establish any semblance of traction. The running game stalled and Pickett had no where to throw, and it became obvious early on that the tone had been set. The Raiders would be in for a long afternoon.

To put the performance into context, the Raiders converted just three of 12 third-down attempts and averaged an anemic 1.8 yards per play. They managed only seven first downs and the time of possession was severely lopsided, with the Eagles controlling the ball for 39:25.

Pickett was sacked four times (hit nine times) and picked off once.

The production came against a two-win Raiders team, sure, but the Eagles can build off it down the stretch. Fangio has been around for 40 years, so he’s seen games like that before, but even he acknowledged it’s uncommon. He also tipped his cap to the other side of the ball – the Eagles’ offense – for its contribution to the defense’s success.

“They moved the ball, got the run game going,” he said. “Anytime you get a game like that, it’s usually the whole team contributes, but the guys really played well.”

Pitch count, no more

While his snap counts have varied since returning from injury, it appears the initial restrictions have been lifted for third-year pro Nolan Smith. For reference, on Sunday the OLB snaps counts were fairly evenly distributed, with Jaelan Phillips leading the way with 30, followed by Smith, who logged 26 snaps, and Jalyx Hunt rounding things out with 25.

Smith, who returned against the Packers following a stint on injured reserve because of a triceps injury, had gradually worked his way back into the rotation. The approach, of course, was calculated, so to not rush him back and risk another aggravation. But things seem to be trending in the right direction, coinciding with a larger snap share and production that is perhaps beginning to resemble the back stretch of last season.

Smith on Sunday notched two tackles and a sack, to go along with a tackle for loss and quarterback hit. Should things continue to trend in a positive direction, the Eagles have quite the athletic trio of pass rushers.

“I don’t think the pitch count’s there anymore,” Fangio said. “We’ve been rolling him, Jalyx and J.P. I think every week, he gets a little better. He is getting better and more comfortable, and I think he’s back to where he was.”

Practice report

With the NovaCare Complex practice fields still frozen due to Sunday’s snow and recent frigid conditions, the team bussed over to Lincoln Financial Field for a mid-afternoon practice.

Not practicing for the Eagles on Wednesday were DT Jalen Carter (shoulders), G Landon Dickerson (calf), T Fred Johnson (ankle) and T Lane Johnson (foot). It’s worth noting that Fred Johnson was present but watched practice from the bench. Without Fred and Landon, the offensive line configuration, from left to right, consisted of: LT Jordan Mailata, LG Brett Toth, C Cam Jurgens, RG Tyler Steen, RT Matt Pryor.

The official injury report comes out later.

For comparison purposes, the Eagles on Tuesday held a walkthrough, which was an estimation that deemed RB Saquon Barkley (stinger), DT Jalen Carter (shoulders), G Landon Dickerson (calf), T Fred Johnson (ankle), T Lane Johnson (foot) and TE Cameron Latu (stinger) as non-participants.

Listed as limited was RB Tank Bigsby (illness), and full-go were LB Zack Baun (hand), OLB Jaelan Phillips (knee) and T Cameron Williams (shoulder).

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com