The tush push should not be allowed, and it has become a cheat code for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles used it throughout the season, all the way to winning the Super Bowl. The tush push is when two big tight ends push with the cornerback, combined with the offensive line blocking in front. This makes for a nearly unstoppable play to convert a few yards into a first down or touchdown.
This play diminishes football’s skill and entertainment. Being able to make the same play every time and convert a first down or score 81% of the time (CBS Sports), even though the defense knows what’s coming, makes the game less strategic. The offense doesn’t have to worry about goalline defiance because even the best teams with the best defense could stop it.
According to CBS Sports, up until 2005, the inability to see with the technology at the time made it impossible to see such a move. However, with modern technology, officials can properly detect pushing. The NFL could return to its old rules without pushing, preventing football from becoming just a battle of strength.
This move is also a safety risk for players because of the injuries they sustain while pushing. According to CBS Sports, Jurgens, a tight end who has been pushing, has experienced back injuries that will require surgery this offseason. This has made the NFL less safe for the wrong reasons. There have always been injuries, but no one is getting injured where they shouldn’t. If the play continued, there could be more long-term injuries from the offensive line.
This play was especially unstoppable in the NFC championship when the Commanders’ defense jumped over the Eagles’ offense 5 plays in a row to try to stop the play. The commanders had to take extreme measures, and the Eagles still scored. This is also a good sign because even without rules being made, teams are starting to get creative on ways to stop it in their own way. If a strategy comes up that can stop it without rules being made, that would help the sport, but speeding up the process would be better to avoid more seasons of unentertaining goalline football.
The tush push is taking away the strategy of football, and without rules made to stop it, it will spread to other teams who will find their own version. This will make the league less safe, entertaining, and skill-strategic. To prevent this, the NFL must ban the tush push or implement rules like no pushing teammates. The Eagles have the best team in the league without this play, so it’s unnecessary to take away from stars like Saquon Barkley and AJ Brown with the tush push.
