What separates the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense from the rest of the league is how many Pro Bowl caliber players are constantly on the field at the same time.

Highest graded #Eagles defenders through 6 weeks (per PFF)

1) Brandon Graham – 90.0
2) Jordan Davis – 77.7
3) Haason Reddick – 76.9
4) Darius Slay – 76.6
5) Josh Sweat – 76.5
6) James Bradberry – 76.2

— Shane Haff (@ShaneHaffNFL) October 18, 2022

Defensive backs Darius Slay, James Bradberry, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson get most of the glory for their eight combined interceptions on the year, but one Eagles defender makes life easier for all of his teammates.

Philly’s defense is like a spectacular sports car. People can’t help to take in its outward beauty, but it’s what is under the hood that makes it so valuable.

Eagles DE Brandon Graham has been the engine to this elite defensive unit. Quarterbacks are under constant pressure from Graham, who ranks fourth in the NFL at his position, per Pro Football Focus.

Highest graded defensive ends through 6 weeks:

1) Myles Garrett – 93.1
2) Maxx Crosby – 90.6
3) Micah Parsons – 90.3
4) Brandon Graham – 90.0

BG also has the 5th highest pass rush win rate (24.3 %)#Eagles pic.twitter.com/z2Vn8v7h20

— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) October 20, 2022

Graham has been consistently overlooked with just one Pro Bowl appearance and one Second Team All-Pro nod in his 13-year career.

Graham’s three sacks and seven quarterback pressures have created opportunities for the team’s secondary. Eagles fans witnessed Graham’s true impact in Sunday night’s win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Coming off the edge, it was Graham who delivered a heavy blow to Cowboys QB Cooper Rush, causing his pass to flutter in the Philadelphia sky. Waiting on the other end was Gardner-Johnson who collected the game-sealing interception.

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson gets the INT! ?

Massive props to Brandon Graham on the pressure to effect the pass, because Lamb was wide open.#Eagles pic.twitter.com/B2PUm9p0qQ

— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) October 17, 2022

There is a symbiotic relationship between a team’s pass rush and its secondary. If the pass rush is forcing the quarterback to make quick decisions under duress, the secondary will have opportunities to create turnovers.

On the flip side, if the defensive backs are blanketing pass catchers, that forces the quarterback to hold onto the ball, which allows the pass rush extra time to make a play up front.

When these two units are firing on all cylinders, like they are now, it takes a special offensive performance to come out on top. So far, there hasn’t been an offense up to the task.

Featured image via Eric Hartline – USA TODAY Sports