Kyle Shanahan, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, is well aware that his 8-3 club has suddenly become favorites against the 10-1 Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC Championship rematch.
“I mean, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me,” Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday, “but I’m not sure how that stuff works.” So I’m not really sure why. It is haphazard.”
What Shanahan does understand is the significance of his squad being in the moment for the upcoming Week 13 matchup at Philadelphia. In the same stadium 11 months earlier, the Eagles defeated a depleted 49ers squad.
“Yeah, I think it applies every week, but I think it’s always tougher when the moment’s a lot bigger outside of the building just because of obvious ramifications and the history,” he added. “But, the moment is exactly what it is every Sunday and you’ve got to make sure that’s reality for our players.”
A ‘Completely Different’ GameShanahan also stated that Sunday will be nothing like the playoff loss. The 49ers faced a quarterback dilemma after Brock Purdy was injured, and then backup Josh Johnson was knocked out, leaving running back Christian McCaffrey as the starter.
“You toss it out and start over.” “I mean, it’s early in the year, but with this much tape, you don’t want to see what they were into last year,” Shanahan added. I guess we’re just different teams with different personalities. You are always evolving, and you are evolving every week. In my experience, a lot of that material can injure you more than it help
Shanahan also stated that Sunday will be nothing like the playoff loss. The 49ers faced a quarterback dilemma after Brock Purdy was injured, and then backup Josh Johnson was knocked out, leaving running back Christian McCaffrey as the starter.
“You toss it out and start over.” “I mean, it’s early in the year, but with this much tape, you don’t want to see what they were into last year,” Shanahan added. I guess we’re just different teams with different personalities. You are always evolving, and you are evolving every week. In my experience, a lot of that material can injure you more than it helps.”
After a three-game losing streak in October, San Francisco has recently turned things around with a three-game winning streak. With the exception of a stumble against the New York Jets on October 15, the Eagles have won every week.
Kyle Shanahan Names Keys to Stopping Eagles QB Jalen Hurts
One of San Francisco’s most difficult challenges is to slow down Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, a feat far more difficult than halting his famous “brotherly shove” performance.
“Yeah, you want to try to keep him out of those situations first and foremost,” he said. “I know it’s possible to stop, but I think it’s pretty proven that it’s extremely hard, so you try to keep him out of those situations.”
“They do such a good job of balancing everything out with the drop-backs, the play-actions, the RPOs, the quarterback run game, the regular run game,” he said. “So, it’s really impossible to stay ahead of them in terms of who has the chalk last.”
Hurts has 410 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns this season, and D’Andre Swift and Kenneth Gainwell can help the Eagles gain ground. Swift has 770 yards and four touchdowns this season, while Gainwell has 202 yards and two scores.
“They’ve got a lot of answers in their run game and stuff, which could put him in some pretty good situations,” he said. “So, you’ve got to be able to weather the storm when they get you.”
“Make it a first down, not a touchdown.” Play extremely disciplined, very sound, and when you get your chance to make a play, you can’t pass it up,” Shanahan added.
