Vic Fangio finds major problem with Eagles defense despite win

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Vic Fangio finds major problem with Eagles defense despite win over Commanders

By Chris Pownall | Last updated Sep 15, 2026 2:12 PM ET

The Philadelphia Eagles walked away with a win over the Washington Commanders, but defensive coordinator Vic Fangio apparently didn't leave the game feeling particularly satisfied.

Philadelphia held Washington under 300 total yards, yet Fangio found one area of his defense that simply wasn't good enough.

Vic Fangio calls out Eagles pass rush

Asked about the pressure generated by Philadelphia's edge-rushers, Fangio didn't dress up his answer.

“I thought our pass rush overall, you know, with our guys that mainly rushed the passer, was inconsistent and really wasn't good enough,” Fangio said.

That is a fairly strong assessment after a victory, especially from a coordinator whose defense still managed to keep Washington from piling up yardage.

Fangio wasn't searching for excuses, either. Washington's mobility at quarterback created some problems, but Philadelphia's defensive coordinator ultimately came back to something much simpler.

“We just didn't win enough of our one-on-ones across the board,” Fangio said.

That should get the attention of Philadelphia's defensive front.

Eagles defense left Vic Fangio wanting more

Fangio wasn't particularly thrilled with the finish, either.

Washington gave Philadelphia problems on its final two possessions, with quarterback scrambles contributing to the Eagles' struggles. Fangio said the defense “just didn't play well enough” on those drives.

His overall evaluation followed the same theme.

Despite Washington finishing below 300 yards, Philadelphia recorded only one sack and failed to force a turnover. Fangio said he was disappointed with all three of Washington's scoring drives, believing his defense could have done more to prevent them.

For an Eagles team with championship expectations, that's probably exactly what Fangio wants.

Winning doesn't erase bad tape.

Philadelphia survived Washington, but Fangio clearly sees plenty that needs cleaning up. The Eagles' pass rush has too much talent for losing one-on-one matchups to become a habit.

One game won't define the group. Fangio just made sure nobody inside the building mistakes a win for a finished product.

Chris Pownall

Chris Pownall is a Contributor to Yardbarker covering all major sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, college athletics, and the biggest storylines shaping the sports world. His work focuses on timely analysis, strong opinion, and the narratives fans are actually talking about. He also serves as an NFL Analyst for Last Word on Sports, where he provides in depth coverage and league wide perspective on the NFL

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