One thing is clear going into the NFC Wild Card game between the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers: there is a ton of mutual respect between the two coaching staffs.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had a chance to speak with reporters about the work that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has done with his offense. Fangio praised the way Shanahan has run his offense.
“Everything’s packaged well together, and he's a good play caller during the game," Fangio said via The Athletic's Zach Berman. "You always know that, and everything they do has a purpose and a reason.”
Eagles-49ers comes down to chess match between Fangio and Shanahan
Fangio spoke at length about having a good relationship with Shanahan over the years and how they have texted each other on occasion. The Eagles' defensive coordinator clearly respects the work Shanahan does.
It's easy to see why Shanahan has been able to work through the 49ers' injuries this season and still be one of the NFL's top offensive units. San Francisco finished seventh in the NFL in total offense (351.4 yards per game) and fifth in passing (244.5 yards per game). Keep in mind that it was with Brock Purdy and Mac Jones starting at quarterback throughout the season.
Credit also needs to be given to Fangio for his work with the Eagles, as they went from one of the NFL's worst pass-rushing units to one of the best going into the postseason. Philly is ranked 13th in total defense with 314.2 yards per game, eighth in pass defense with 189.8 yards per game, and fifth in points allowed per game with 19.1.
While many will talk about the coaching battle between Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Fangio and Shanahan are the more evenly matched chess players, making it fun to watch. Fangio will have to neutralize San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey, and Shanahan will have to handle blocking top defensive tackles in Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo.
Read more: Another perfect potential Kevin Patullo replacement just fell into Eagles' laps
Despite all the injuries that have piled up for the 49ers going into the playoffs, this game truly will be decided by who is coached better and who can set their players up in the correct positions. Shanahan and Fangio do that better than any other coaches in the NFL, so this matchup will be fun and stressful to watch.