For this question, I've got a pretty large carnivore. I haven't quite decided on their hunting style, but am leaning toward them being an endurance hunter. They're comparable in size to a large present-day Earth feline (lion, tiger or similar) and have long, rather sharp claws useful for grasping, holding and cutting.
There are two traits that I'd like to have in this species, which I am trying to figure out if they could evolve together.
One is long canine teeth. Not quite the size of those of a Smilodon (also), but certainly in line with those of Machaeroides eothen or perhaps slightly longer:
The other trait I'm looking to have is that they kill, at least at times (as in, not necessarily every kill is done this way, but a non-negligible fraction of kills are), by actually crushing or biting through the skull of their prey.
Jaguars come pretty close to fitting the bill for the latter, but their canines are comparatively shorter.
Can I plausibly have both, or will I have to settle for one or the other? Particularly if the latter, then why?