Dolphins the latest victim of the 'Tush Push' in 34-20 loss to Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles have revolutionized the game of football with the Tush Push, its short yardage play over the last two seasons. The Eagles have converted third and fourth down a wild 41 of 44 times going back to the start of the 2022 season. The Dolphins just happened to be another hapless defense standing […]

Craig Smith — College Football & NFL Trending News Writer

Oct 23, 2023 12:22 PM EDT

The Dolphins just happened to be another hapless defense standing in the way of what appears to be a completely unstoppable force. The Eagles used the play to convert all four fourth down attempts in their 31-17 win over the Dolphins. No matter what the Dolphins tried to do, it just didn't work.

Christian Wilkins shot underneath Jason Kelce and tried to blow it up? A.J. Brown just pushed Jalen Hurts right over and past the duo who were flattened under a mass of humanity.

Send a defensive back flying over the top? Nonsense, as the play is all about getting low and using leverage and push. It went as poorly as expected.

The Dolphins tried everything, but they came to the same realization and conclusion as everyone else: it's an unstoppable play.

Well, perhaps not COMPLETELY unstoppable. On the field? Yes, it apparently can't be halted. However, the league will review the play in the offseason and could end up changing the rules and making the play illegal. League rules currently prohibit an offensive player assisting a ballcarrier by pulling him. It wouldn't be a stretch at all to see the league determine assisting ballcarriers should be banned in all manners.

Until then, teams will have to figure out how to slow down the silver-and-green steamroller in short yardage situations for the rest of the year. And as the Dolphins found out on Sunday night, there might just not be a way between the white lines.