PHLY Philadelphia Eagles Podcast Eagles-Niners Preview: How can Vic Fangio’s defense SHUT DOWN Kyle Shanahan’s offense?
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Jan 7, 2026 
ESPN analyst Mina Kimes, known for her sharp football insights, joins the discussion on the Eagles-49ers clash. They delve into the strategic mind games between Vic Fangio's defense and Kyle Shanahan's offense. Topics include the key role of run defense and how the Eagles can counteract Brock Purdy's passing tendencies. Kimes shares her playoff predictions and highlights specific matchup advantages the Eagles might exploit. Expect an in-depth exploration of tactics that could define the game.
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Shanahan's Stress-and-Isolate Offense
- Kyle Shanahan's offense stresses defenses with heavy motion, condensed formations, and play-action to force predictable looks.
- That structure lets him isolate defenders or attack coverage weaknesses repeatedly.
Force One‑On‑One Boundary Matchups
- Shanahan will create four‑to‑one formations and one‑on‑one matchups to attack boundary corners like Adoree Jackson.
- Those isolated vertical and dagger concepts exploit quarters/cover‑eight rotations and force single defenders to choose.
Use Motion As A Coverage Test
- Expect San Francisco to use motion and empty sets as coverage‑tests and adjust personnel accordingly.
- Prepare defenders to communicate pre‑snap and handle multiple vertical responsibilities from motion.