FRISCO — Mike McCarthy will face defensive coordinator Vic Fangio for the 10th time as a head coach Sunday when the Cowboys host the Eagles.
The two squared off in the NFC North seven times from 2015-2018, when McCarthy was the head coach of the Packers and Fangio was the defensive coordinator for the Bears. McCarthy was 6-1 in those games.
More recent history, however, has favored Fangio. As head coach of the Cowboys, McCarthy has gone 0-2 against Fangio’s defenses. In 2021, Fangio, then the head coach of the Broncos, snapped a six-game Cowboys win streak when Denver forced two turnovers in a 30-16 win. In 2023, as defensive coordinator of the Dolphins, Fangio’s defense sacked Dak Prescott four times en route to a 22-20 win.
Fangio was hired as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator before this season, after serving as a defensive consultant for Philadelphia during the 2022-23 season. McCarthy told reporters Monday that the defensive coordinator’s past tendencies will factor into the Cowboys’ preparation, but Fangio’s more recent success will be the focus of his film study this week.
“I think the biggest thing is just having an understanding of him and knowing his history, and I’m sure it’s a two-way street,” McCarthy said. “When I turn on the tape now, I’m looking at what he’s doing in Philadelphia. How is he using these pieces that he has?”
Some strong play from young corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, both drafted this year, has allowed Fangio to run his two-high safety defense effectively. The Eagles enter this game allowing the fifth-fewest rushing yards and the fourth-fewest passing yards in the NFL this season.
McCarthy said he believes he knows how Fangio wants to defend the Cowboys on Sunday, based on the players he has available.
“The stress points of where he’s attacking us defensively is clear, based on their assets, in my opinion,” McCarthy said.
Dallas’ coach will have to counter Fangio with backup quarterback Cooper Rush leading the offense, after Prescott was ruled out for multiple weeks with a hamstring injury Monday. CeeDee Lamb’s shoulder injury is considered not serious, and he could be available Sunday.
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