Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Graham doesn’t value just sacks
PHILADELPHIA » Brandon Graham leads the Eagles with a career-high 8½ sacks, which ranks ninth in the NFC. That total had to carry considerable weight in the Pro Bowl voting done recently by players and coaches.
It’s the most sacks by an Eagles player since Fletcher Cox got 9½ on the way to his first Pro Bowl in 2015.
But the stat every bit as sweet to Graham is zero — as in no 100-yard rushers allowed by the Eagles this season. The Eagles, Bears, Panthers and Titans are the only teams that haven’t allowed a back to rush for 100 yards on them this year, although the Rams’ Todd Gurley got close last week, as he racked up 96 rushing yards on 13 carries.
The Eagles haven’t given a runner 100 yards since Matt Jones of the Redskins put 135 on them in Week 6 of last season. That’s a streak of 24 straight games. The Eagles allow just 71.2 rushing yards per game, the fewest in the league this season.
“It’s big because you can’t be a good defense if you can’t stop the run,” Graham said. “It’s been good
to us this year. We’ve been stopping the run. We’ve been doing a lot of things that we talked about, and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
Graham is two sacks away from 37½ in his career, which would tie Andy Harmon (1991-97) for sixthmost by an Eagle.
The late Reggie White set the single-season Eagles record with 21 sacks in 12 games in 1987, and the all-time club mark with 124 sacks from 1985-92.
Rolling with veteran Nick Foles as the starting quarterback in place of injured veteran Carson Wentz is a no-brainer.
But much has been made of the Eagles giving the backup job to the untested Nate Sudfeld, whose next NFL snap will be his first.
While Doug Pederson appreciates experience, it took him about two seconds to say the Foles-Sudfeld coupling is a slam-dunk.
“Right now, we’re very comfortable and confident with the guys we have,” Pederson said. “Listen, it’s tough. I’ve been on teams where even if you bring in a guy — whether it’s a veteran guy or not — this late in the year to learn our system and to get caught up to speed, it’s tough. It’s tough on that player. And it’s whether that person would even be in a position to help at that position, where we’ve got two guys that have been here all season. They have been in the meetings.
“So, we are very comfortable with that and confident that they can get the job done.”
The Eagles can always change their mind about the backup job. That said, it’s safe to say they’ve been impressed with Sudfeld’s expanded role in practices this week.
Eagles guard Stefen Wisniewski (ankle) was limited in practice Friday, and that’s not a good thing for the offensive line that was porous the entire West Coast road trip.
If Wiz can’t go, Chance Warmack or Isaac Seumalo would start at left guard according to Pederson, an indication the head coach isn’t thrilled with either backup.
“Wiz has obviously played really well, and he’ll continue to play well for us, and these guys are quality, competent backups that we are going to need going down the stretch,” Pederson said. “This will be a great opportunity again both for Chance, if he gets a chance to play, or Isaac.”
Elsewhere on the injury front, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and defensive end Steven Means were back at practice after being given a day off due to illnesses.
Giants safety Landon Collins could miss the first game of his NFL career due to an ankle injury.
The Giants listed Collins, who has started 45 straight games, as doubtful for the Eagles. They also promoted safety Ryan Murphy from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
The Giants listed safety Nat Berhe (hamstring) as out, and cornerback Brandon Dixon (heel-hamstring) and wide receivers Roger Lewis Jr. (ankle) and Travis Rudolph (hamstring) as questionable.
NOTES » Eagles receiver Torrey Smith needs one catch to reach 300 and 71 receiving yards for 5,000 in his career. … Kicker Jake Elliott is one field goal of 40 or more yards from his 17th of the season, which would tie the single season club high of David Akers in 2004. … Tight end Brent Celek is six receptions from becoming the fourth Eagle to reach 400 in his career, joining Harold Carmichael (1971-83), Pete Retzlaff (1956-66) and Brian Westbrook (200209). Celek needs 27 receiving yards to hit 5,000, becoming the eighth player in Eagles history to do so. … Jeffery, Nelson Agholor and Zach Ertz each have 600 or more receiving yards and seven or more TD receptions, the first time three players have hit those benchmarks in the same season in Eagles history.