The Cold Wire
Two years after letting go of a 10-point halftime lead in the Super Bowl, the Philadelphia Eagles get another shot at defeating Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
They have been one of the NFL’s winningest teams dating back to the 2022 season thanks to a strong defense and one of the game’s best offensive lines.
Thanks to that offensive line, and the rushing ability of quarterback Jalen Hurts, their “Tush Push” play in third- or fourth-and-short situations has been nearly unstoppable, and therefore some feel the play should be banned.
According to NFL on FOX rules analyst Mike Pereira, the league could be ready to consider that after the controversy that arose from the NFC Championship Game.
“I think it will be a conversation. … I think with the ugliness of that, they’ll take a further look at it,” Pereira said, via Pro Football Talk.
Mike Pereira: League could look at QB push play after “ugliness” of NFC Championship Game. https://t.co/nUZHEUmr7s
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 6, 2025
The Washington Commanders attempted to combat the play by going offside multiple times, a sequence that resulted in the threat of the Eagles being awarded an automatic touchdown, a rule very few were aware of.
Despite renewed calls to give the Tush Push a legislated shove out of the league, there is an argument to be made that it is unfair to penalize teams and/or players for mastering a certain aspect of the game.
Hurts ran for a total of 630 yards and 14 touchdowns during the regular season with the help of the play also known as the “Brotherly Shove,” to go along with 2,903 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns.
The difference this season for the Eagles has been the addition of running back Saquon Barkley, who elevated his game to heights that only a handful of players have ever sustained for a full season.
He became the ninth player to gain 2,000 rushing yards in a single season, and he could very well tilt things in the Super Bowl by opening up the passing game for wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
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