First, let’s make one thing ultra clear. The Philadelphia Eagles are playing within the boundaries of the rules with their “brotherly shove” or “tush push.” They have taken advantage of a game situation and deserve credit for coming up with the play.
Their quarterback, Jalen Hurts, and offensive line are well-built to run the play. And they will undoubtedly use it in the Super Bowl. The Eagles have enjoyed great success, although it should be pointed out the tush push is not unstoppable. It ranked in the 90% range in 2022, but it’s more like 82% this year.
But the play needs to be outlawed, heading into the 2025 season. And there are several reasons why.
They play changes the aesthetically pleasing shape of the field
NFL playing surfaces are 100 yards between goal lines. This breaks down into 10 neat 10-yard boxes. Every series starts with first and 10.
However, the Eagles have made it feel like first and nine. Yes, it’s perception. But it’s more like reality when the Eagles gain nine yards in two or three plays. Any time a defense makes a nice play to stop a conversion on third down, there can also be a sense of failure. The Eagles don’t need that 10th yard until fourth down.
In a game already tilted away from defensive success and highlighting touchdowns, does the NFL need another big advantage for the offense?
No.
But here is the biggest reason the tush push should be disallowed in the NFL …
The play goes against the strategy of football
It would not be any kind of stretch for the NFL to disallow the tush push. Before 2005, the NFL did not permit pushing a runner. And there is good reason for it. What true fan wants to see a rugby scrum in the middle of a hard-fought NFL game? That’s what a tush push looks like. And that’s what it looks like when a runner is nearing the goal line, and his teammates crash into him in a big standing pile of bodies.
Fox rules analyst Dean Blandino said it perfectly in 2023.
“(The tush push) amounts to a rugby scrum,” Blandino said. “The NFL wants to showcase the athleticism and skill of our athletes. This is just not a skillful play. This is just a tactic that is not an aesthetically pleasing play, and I think the competition committee is going to take a look at it.’’
While the committee didn’t remove the play two years ago, it’s time to seriously revisit the issue. One of the great things about the NFL is the strategy. And this play doesn’t look anything like other football plays.
Wait a minute, you might say, what about the quarterback sneak? The tush push looks like a quarterback sneak, right?
No, it doesn’t. Tom Brady owns the distinction of being the greatest quarterback-sneak artist of all time. But Brady earned every one of his 90.5% conversions on his own. He took the snap, took the hit, and almost always got the first down or the touchdown.
There’s a certain amount of bravery it takes for a quarterback to sneak. Just ask the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, who famously got injured during a goal-line sneak.
Also, Brady picked his spots. The Patriots didn’t look at every 1-yard situation the same way. Sometimes Brady used the sneak. Sometimes he didn’t. With the Eagles, there’s no guessing game. They’re going to use the tush push close to 100% of the time.
The tush push removes excitement from the game
Imagine a team with a first-and-goal situation. It’s the Super Bowl. Fourth quarter. Twenty seconds remaining. The Eagles trail by two points. A touchdown ends the suspense.
But the Chiefs come up with three straight stops. The excitement builds with each play. And now it’s fourth down. Hurts takes the snap. It’s a pass! He rolls out. Throws. The ball is deflected. An Eagles receiver gets his hands on the ball but can’t bring it in. Chiefs win. It would be remembered as one of the greatest moments in NFL history.
Nope. Not with the tush push. On first down, Hurts gets shoved into the end zone. Game over. Even Mahomes can’t mount a touchdown drive in 17 seconds. The opportunity for a thrilling finish melts into an ugly pile of tush push.
Get rid of it. Let’s get back to football. Let’s hand the ball to Marshawn Lynch in that situation. Sorry Seahawks. Couldn’t resist.
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