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I know that the season’s over, but I still wanted to briefly break down this last game, as I thought it was interesting to see Vic Fangio vs. Kyle Shanahan. While the defense didn’t have their best night, this was far from a unit collapsing or getting exposed. This felt like a group that had carried a flawed team for months, finally running into an elite offensive mind while completely starved of help from the other side of the ball. Shanahan won this particular matchup, but the bigger picture still points to a defense that had a fantastic season and will be back stronger.
Defense
The first thing that jumps off the defensive film every single week is the effort. The offense could learn a lot from this unit. Even in a game where the offense continually put the defense in awful positions, the hustle never dipped. The Eagles were flying to the football, playing fast and physical, and clearly still believed in what they were doing. That matters. This defense didn’t quit, but I think it ran out of juice towards the end. After months of being leaned on heavily, the dam finally cracked because the offense once again needed them to be perfect.
As I knew he would, Shanahan immediately went after defensive communication with motion and misdirection, and it worked. The early slant off motion is a perfect example: Marcus Epps gets pulled left, the fake toss draws Nakobe Dean out of the middle, and the window opens instantly. This is how good offensive design and motion simplifies the quarterback’s job. Purdy isn’t asked to process much here; the design hands him an easy answer. That’s high-level offensive football.
One of the more frustrating elements of the night was how often the Eagles lived in single-high looks. Shanahan tore apart Cover 3, repeatedly attacking the intermediate middle of the field. This is what his offense is built on. Dropping an extra defender into the box likely helped against the run, but it consistently left soft spots behind the linebackers. Split-safety looks clearly gave Purdy more to think about, yet the Eagles didn’t lean into them enough. This felt like a rare case where the coverage menu tilted the wrong way, and I was a little surprised by what Fangio called overall. I wonder if he regrets some of his calls.
Jordan Davis deserves real credit here. Over the second half of the season, he has quietly become the most consistently impactful defensive player on the roster in the front seven. Against the 49ers, he held up against double teams, anchored the run defense, and brought real physicality snap after snap. He hasn’t fatigued at all as the season has progressed, which is a huge sign of progress. The contrast between Davis and Jalen Carter down the stretch has been stark. Davis was the tone-setter when things got tough.
When the Eagles did get into split-safety coverage, the results were noticeably better. These looks squeezed the intermediate middle and forced Purdy to hold the ball longer, allowing the rush to get home. The sack cleaned up by Carter off Jaelen Phillips’ pressure is exactly how this defense wants to win. This is the perfect example of coverage forcing hesitation, and the pass rush closing the deal. The Eagles’ pass rush wasn’t great in this game, and I do wonder if adding a top-tier pass rusher is going to be on the Eagles’ minds this offseason. Without Jalen Carter dominating like he did last year, I think the pass rush wasn’t where it needed to be at times this season.
Quinyon Mitchell’s night perfectly captured what separates good players from elite ones. He got beaten early, which happens. What matters is how you respond. Mitchell adjusted, trusted his eyes, and started jumping routes. The interceptions weren’t lucky plays; they were the result of confidence and anticipation. That’s a huge development, and it’s why his ceiling is so high going forward. For a 2nd year corner, he’s years ahead of where he should be. He’s going to be so good. He already is!
Even on plays that technically “worked in this game, I had structural concerns. The Christian McCaffrey matchup issue loomed all night. If McCaffrey were a wide receiver, the Eagles almost certainly would have bracketed him more aggressively. Treating him like a normal back in space is asking for trouble, and while the defense survived some of those reps, it always felt like Shanahan had the advantage. Considering how little else the 49ers had outside of McCaffrey when Kittle went off injured, I’m surprised Fangio didn’t do more to respond to McCaffrey. However, you have to give McCaffrey credit. He’s an unbelievable receiver out of the backfield.
The trick-play touchdown summed up the gap between these offenses in many ways. Every defender’s eyes were manipulated. Jet motion, fake handoffs, delayed action. It all pieced together to force someone on the defense to screw up. Reed Blankenship ends up looking awful on the broadcast, but the reality is that everyone on the backend was spinning. I’m not even sure he sees McCaffrey until he runs past him. Just look at the secondary. This is what elite offensive design looks like. When was the last time the Eagles’ offense made a defense look this uncomfortable? It hasn’t been this year, that’s for sure.
Mitchell’s second interception was a reminder of just how good he already is. From Purdy’s perspective, the throw makes sense. He gets single-high coverage, and a cornerback with outside leverage covering a crossing route. But Mitchell’s ability to close space and play through the tight end completely erases what should be a logical read. That’s elite corner play.
The game ultimately ended where it probably had to. Shanahan finally got Fangio in this matchup, isolating McCaffrey on Nakobe Dean in the red zone. Purdy simply stayed calm, worked through progression, and found the matchup he wanted. That’s not a defensive failure so much as offensive excellence. The encouraging part is that Fangio will study this film all offseason. Unlike the offensive staff, he will take responsibility and will want to get better. If we meet Shanahan again next year, I expect him to come back better. That’s a proper coach.
Final Thoughts
This defense didn’t lose the season. It propped it up for months. It finished strong, developed some cornerstone players, and proved it could carry games against high-level opponents. The frustration should live with an offense that couldn’t capitalize on turnovers, momentum, or opportunity. I can’t be critical of a defense that gave everything it had until the tank finally ran dry. I look forward to watching this unit again next season.
Thank you for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to comment below and ask any questions. If you enjoyed this piece, you can find more of my work and podcast here. If you would like to support me further, please check out my Patreon here!
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