The Cold Wire
The Philadelphia Eagles earned a spot in Super Bowl LIX with a commanding victory against the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game.
Their unstoppable “Tush Push” play again proved instrumental, frustrating the Commanders to the point of drawing repeated offside penalties.
The effectiveness of the controversial play continues to spark debate about defensive strategies and its place in the game.
Analyst Mike Francesa didn’t mince words about his stance on the Eagles’ signature play.
“I’m done with the tush push. Done with it. I want it outlawed. I want a rule put in. And I know the competition committee was fooling with this last year. Do it. No ball carrier can be pulled or pushed by another player on his team. Case closed. That’s over with. It’s stupid,” Francesa said, via his podcast.
"I mean, it was not football. Let's just do away with it, OK?"@MikeFrancesa has had enough of the "Tush Push" pic.twitter.com/7C3Nyjb8Xr
— The Mike Francesa Podcast (@FrancesaPodcast) January 28, 2025
His criticism stems from games like the Eagles-Commanders matchup, where he felt the play detracted from traditional football appeal.
While acknowledging its potential excitement in high-stakes situations like the Super Bowl, Francesa said it’s time for the NFL to move on and eliminate the play.
The Commanders’ defensive strategy against the play proved equally controversial.
Their attempts to disrupt it with repeated goal-line penalties backfired when officials threatened to award the Eagles an automatic touchdown if the infractions continued.
The reality remains that stopping the play presents an almost impossible challenge, particularly when executed by the Eagles’ well-practiced unit.
What makes the play particularly effective is the push that quarterback Jalen Hurts receives from behind.
Defenders already struggle to tackle Hurts in normal situations, but when he has teammates driving him forward in a rugby-style formation, the task becomes even more daunting.
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