NFL plans to intervene against Philadelphia's extremely dominant play

Odds are Jalen Hurts won't be getting a push from his teammates on quarterback sneaks next season. It is believed that the NFL's competition committee is expected to take a hard look at the Tush Push play that was so effective for Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles this season. The play was so dominant the league […]

Ian Kayanja

Feb 17, 2023 10:51 AM EST

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) runs the ball as wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) blocks Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38) in the first quarter in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Feb. 12, 2023

Odds are Jalen Hurts won't be getting a push from his teammates on quarterback sneaks next season.

It is believed that the NFL's competition committee is expected to take a hard look at the Tush Push play that was so effective for Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles this season. The play was so dominant the league needs to rewrite the rules.

Dean Blandino says the NFL Competition Committee might look to eliminate the "Tush Push" play on QB sneaks that was so effective for Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles this season. https://t.co/nCP16kQEiA
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 16, 2023

In the Super Bowl, Hurts had 10 rushing first downs. Six of them came on quarterback sneaks. And on each of them, the Eagles lined up two or three players behind Hurts and then they pushed him forward after the ball was snapped. It was a formula that couldn't really be stopped.

Hurts converted on 36 of 40 quarterback sneaks this season. The push is part of the reason he was so effective. The wild aspect is that the play is completely legal. The Eagles are just too effective at running it, the league is choosing to take another look at its rules.

The controversial power of the Tush Push

Pushing a ball carrier to help move him forward has been legal in the NFL since 2005. But surprisingly, the Eagles really have been the first team to weaponize it. After getting a season-long look at it, the NFL doesn’t like it.

“I think the league is going to look at this, and I’d be shocked if they don’t make a change,’’ said Dean Blandino, a rules analyst for Fox Sports and The 33rd Team, who was the NFL’s vice president of officiating from 2013 to 2017.

Just Jalen Hurts' 3rd rushing TD of the day… nbd ? #FlyEaglesFly

(via @NFL) | @Eagles pic.twitter.com/qarYrcQxSO
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 13, 2023

The league competition committee is set to meet in two weeks. High on the agenda will be Philadelphia's push play.

“I was talking to (Denver Broncos coach) Sean Payton during Sunday’s game, and he said we’re going to do this every time next season if they don’t take it out,’’ Blandino said.

“It amounts to a rugby scrum. The NFL wants to showcase the athleticism and skill of our athletes. This is just not a skillful play. This is just a tactic that is not an aesthetically pleasing play, and I think the competition committee is going to take a look at it.’’

Philadelphia's tush push play was so effective, it may force the NFL to rewrite the rules. It's just another example of the Eagles leading the way offensively in a league that needs to learn how to catch up.