If the San Francisco 49ers ever had a statement game coming up, it would be this Sunday on the road against the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles.
That means dealing with quarterback Jalen Hurts, wide receiver A.J. Brown, a fearsome Philly pass rush and the meanest sports fans in the nation.
Playing the Eagles also means preparing defensively for the “tush push,” their iconic play they run on third and fourth-and-short situations where their offensive line shoves Hurts forward in order to gain a first down.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan offered a bit of levity when asked how his team is preparing for that play, per NBC Sports.
“We’re going to do like 10 live reps of it today and see if we have anyone left after it.”
Kyle Shanahan jokes about how the Niners are practicing for the “Tush Push” pic.twitter.com/gRIkZbm5O0
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) November 29, 2023
Unlike most other offensive sets, where teams have to be ready for certain pass routes and motions, defending the “tush push” may be more of a matter of will than strategy.
The play has been very successful for the Eagles, and thus it is no wonder why they’re third in third-down conversion percentage and first in fourth-down conversion rate.
Of course, the Eagles easily beat the 49ers in last season’s NFC Championship Game, and it was never a fair fight, as Niners quarterback Brock Purdy exited the game early with a torn UCL in his throwing elbow.
Multiple other San Francisco players were banged up in that contest, including backup QB Josh Johnson, who suffered a concussion, leaving the team with no healthy signal-callers.
A win in the Delaware Valley would go a long way in proving the Niners are poised to win their first Super Bowl championship since the 1994 season.
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