Dec 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) scores a touchdown during the third quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
Well, that was a relief.
The Philadelphia Eagles shut out the Las Vegas Raiders by a final score of 31-0 on a windy, freezing Sunday afternoon. The Raiders sure played up (or rather, played down) to their record, and the Eagles' starters didn't play for the majority of the fourth quarter.
The Eagles moved to 9-5 with the victory, while the Raiders dropped to 2-12. There's honestly not a lot to dissect from the game, but let's talk about it!
Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo called a number of different designed runs for Hurts throughout Sunday's game, starting on the Birds' first drive of the game. On the way to an eventual opening drive touchdown, Hurts converted a 3rd and 4 on a designed run that kept the drive alive.
In total, Hurts converted three third downs with his legs, including a successful designed run on 3rd and 12.
Patullo's offense has struggled this year, in part because it hasn't utilized Hurts' ability to run the football himself. While the quarterback has been running the football, it's rarely been designed; most of the time, Hurts has scrambled because the pocket collapsed and no Eagles were open. Seeing Hurts take off on designed plays was a welcome relief.
Hurts had just seven carries (he's topped or matched that mark in seven other games this season), but he turned those carries into 39 yards, good for his highest total since Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Establishing Hurts as a threat in the run game early helped open up the rest of the Eagles offense. Dallas Goedert reached the end zone twice, and A.J. Brown hauled in Hurts' third touchdown pass of the day:
Jalen Hurts is having a good day. pic.twitter.com/2PxgSGlVm1
31 points ain't too shabby. It's the most the Eagles have scored since Week 8 against the New York Giants way back on Oct. 26. Three touchdowns from Hurts is also a welcome sight following the worst game of his career against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Another football player's return from retirement was all over the headlines this week. But on Sunday, Brandon Graham reminded Philip Rivers that he started the un-retirement trend.
In the 37-year-old's sixth game since returning in November, Graham notched two tackles. Both came on pivotal third downs. Both were quarterback hits. Both were sacks.
Brandon Graham gets to Kenny Pickett!
Unc still got it😤 pic.twitter.com/AoIp9T7vnj
Unfortunately, Cooper DeJean was flagged for two penalties, holding during the play and unnecessary roughness after the play. The holding penalty was declined and the personal foul was enforced, which meant that even though the Raiders' drive continued, Graham's sack still counted.
And Moro Ojomo got to Kenny Pickett on the very next play, anyway.
Graham's second sack came in the second quarter on yet another third down:
THE BRANDON GRAHAM GAME pic.twitter.com/1YaPt1P2CK
Graham's renaissance game stalled drives and kept the Raiders offense from making any noise while the Eagles offense jumped out to a big lead. The rest of the Eagles defense also enjoyed Sunday's rout, with Nolan Smith and Moro Ojomo getting a sack apiece, and Zack Baun picking off Pickett:
Zack Baun hauls in a Pickett Pick! pic.twitter.com/XntDci2HMo
Vic Fangio's defense put up yet another great showing, holding the Raiders' offense to just 75 total yards. This was a game the Eagles should have won, and they did so emphatically, posting their first shutout since Dec. 2018.
But then again...
The Eagles didn't exactly beat a major contender Sunday.
Of course, a win is a win, and a win is especially welcome in the wake of three humiliating losses. A huge portion of Philadelphia was holding its breath and desperately hoping that the 2025 Raiders game wouldn't be a repeat of the 2023 Arizona Cardinals debacle. If the Birds won in any fashion except convincingly, those fears would have only been confirmed.
But the thing is, even a convincing victory – a shutout, no less – can't assuage those fears. Not when it's against the 2-11 Las Vegas Raiders, who boast the 31st-ranked offense in the NFL. The Eagles' last remaining true test will come in Week 17 against the Buffalo Bills. Otherwise, all that's left is to play the 4-10 Washington Commanders twice.
The Eagles looked good against the Raiders. They were supposed to look good against the Raiders. Unfortunately, the aforementioned three straight humiliating losses instilled unease deep into the heart of Philadelphia. A victory against the Raiders, regardless of the level of domination, could never have cured that.
The Eagles head to the dump formerly known as FedEx Field to face the 4-10 Washington Commanders at 5 p.m. on Saturday. It's the first game in the NFL's Super Saturday doubleheader, and it's another should-be victory. We'll see if the Eagles hang onto any lessons they learned against Las Vegas.
