The Eagles call it the “brotherly shove.”
NFL referees aren’t finding it to be so friendly.
The play, also known as the “tush push,” has helped the Eagles notch many a first down — though center Jason Kelce says officials tried to clamp down on their use of the controversial play before their Week 4 34-31 overtime win over the Washington Commanders..
“Landon [Dickerson] has been lining up in the neutral zone,” Kelce said on the “New Heights” podcast with his brother, Travis, on Thursday. “So they warned us before the game.”
The play involves a modified QB sneak, in which another player lines up behind the quarterback and pushes him forward.
Philadelphia has run the “tush push” 37 times in the regular season, per ESPN Stats & Information, and have gotten a first down or scored a touchdown on 34 of those attempts — a success rate of 92%.
Some in the game have called for the NFL to ban the play, though it seems the Eagles aren’t going to give it up until forced to.
“We knew the rules,” Sirianni said. “Any time we put a play in that maybe not a lot of people run and that there could be anything within the rules, we’ll always look into that. We knew the rules, and that was completely legal, and it’s been a good play for us, a really good play for us because the guys make it go and make it work.”
Thursday’s Bears-Commanders game featured a “brotherly shove” with Chicago successfully using it to pick up a first down on a third-and-one.
“Well, it’s not being officiated as illegal, so we just have to prepare for it,” Washington defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said before the Commanders’ loss to the Eagles.
“I would personally like to see it eliminated, not just because they run it better than anybody, although they do run it better than anybody. But I don’t think that’s a football play. I think it’s a nice rugby play, and it’s not what we’re looking for in football.”
Although the legality of the play has been a topic of conversation, the disdain for the “Tush Push” from broadcasters has been apparent.
“There’s nothing you can do?” Prime Video analyst Kirk Herbstreit asked fellow broadcaster Al Michaels.
“Nothing. Except change the rule next year,” said Michaels.