Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is a fan of Philadelphia’s “tush push,” but he’s an even greater admirer of Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
The two veteran play-callers will match wits on Sunday when Payton’s Broncos (2-2) visit Fangio’s unbeaten Eagles (4-0), who haven’t lost at home since Week 2 of last season.
When Payton was hired to lead the Broncos in January 2023, he tried to lure Fangio back to Denver. Fangio, who was head coach of the Broncos from 2019-21, took the DC post with the Miami Dolphins instead before jumping to the Eagles in 2024.
“No. 1, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Vic,” Payton said Tuesday. “He went to the same high school my father went to in Scranton (Pa.), so long before we ever met each other. I have a cousin that taught him sixth-grade math.
“Vic’s one of those guys who’s always stayed ahead of the curve. You know you’re getting someone who is going to have a real good game plan, that’s going to understand your strengths and weaknesses. You’re going to have to be on point with the details, and that’s one of his strengths — all the little things. … There’s a tremendous amount of respect on my part for him and what he’s accomplished.”
Payton, who made his NFL start as the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach from 1997-98, got his Broncos back to .500 with a 28-3 home victory against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.
Denver is winless on the road since last November (0-2 this season), but Payton’s offense with quarterback Bo Nix, running back J.K. Dobbins and wide receiver Courtland Sutton is averaging more than 100 yards per game (354.5) more than the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (251.5).
“He’s an excellent play-caller,” Fangio said Tuesday, per Sports Illustrated. “They are very multiple on offense with multiple personnel groups, multiple schemes from the play standpoint, but yet he still has a good bit of old school in him, and they’ll run the ball.
“They like the power game and the run game. He’s really good. He’s tough to go against.”
Philadelphia has won all four games this season by seven or fewer points, including last weekend’s 31-25 road win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Eagles have been outgained in all four games. The 2012 Arizona Cardinals (who finished 5-11) are the only other team in the past 90 years to go 4-0 despite losing the yardage battle in each game, per ESPN Research.
Philadelphia added wrinkles to the tush push against the Bucs, scoring twice while lined up in the formation: one on quarterback Jalen Hurts’ underhand toss to Dallas Goedert and another on a Saquon Barkley sweep. Hurts leads the team this season with four rushing TDs.
“I was one that stood up in favor of (the tush push),” Payton said, referring to various attempts to abolish the play since last season.
“… I’ve been involved in those meetings for a long time, and when all of the sudden health and safety was pulled into that which might be the safest play in football, my (B.S.) nose kind of went up. It’s a quarterback sneak, and I think credit Philadelphia.”
Tight end Goedert, who missed the Week No. 2 game at Kansas City with a knee sprain, was the lone Eagle to miss practice on Wednesday, with a knee designation. DT Jalen Carter (shoulder), LB Nakobe Dean (knee), CB Adoree Jackson (groin) and OT Lane Johnson (shoulder) were also listed as limited participants.
The only Bronco to miss Wednesday’s session was tight end Nate Adkins (concussion). OLB Jonah Elliss (ribs) and WR Marvin Mims Jr. (hip/ankle) were limited.
