The Eagles’ “Tush Push” Lives On: Four Straight Snaps, Three Yards, and a Statement Touchdown

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Philadelphia Eagles’ most controversial – and most unstoppable – offensive play struck again on Thursday night, even if it took a few bruising attempts to get there.

In the second quarter of their nationally televised showdown against the New York Giants, the Eagles lined up and ran their infamous “Tush Push” – also known as the “Brotherly Shove” – four consecutive times near the goal line. The result? Just three yards gained … but a hard-earned touchdown and another reminder that, for all the debate surrounding its legality and safety, the play still works when it matters most.

The Sequence That Defined the Drive

The sequence unfolded midway through the second quarter with the Eagles trailing 13–10, facing a critical red-zone opportunity at MetLife Stadium.

After a chunk gain on second down set up a manageable third-and-one from the Giants’ three-yard line, head coach Nick Sirianni signaled for his team’s signature short-yardage call — the same play that has defined the Eagles’ identity over the past two seasons.

Play one: Hurts took the snap under center, with his offensive line digging low and tight end Dallas Goedert and running back Saquon Barkley lined up behind him to provide the shove. The Giants’ defensive front, led by Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns, held firm. No gain.

Play two: Undeterred, Sirianni called it again on fourth down. This time, Hurts and his linemen surged forward behind Jason Kelce and Landon Dickerson, with the officials spotting the ball just past the marker. A generous two-yard gain kept the drive alive and set up first-and-goal from the one-yard line.

Play three: The Eagles went right back to it. Another “tush push.” Another stand by New York’s defensive front. The Giants’ linebackers shot the gaps, stacking Hurts up before he could even get his pads under the pile.

Play four: Finally, on second-and-goal, Hurts burrowed just far enough beneath the scrum to cross the plane. The ball broke the goal line by inches — and the Eagles had their touchdown.

Four plays. Three yards. Six points.

A Controversial Play That Still Works

Love it or hate it, the “Tush Push” has become synonymous with the modern Eagles offense. What began as a situational short-yardage sneak in 2022 has evolved into an unstoppable – and widely debated – cornerstone of their offensive identity.

At its core, the play is simple: quarterback sneak, enhanced by leverage and power. The Eagles’ offensive line fires low, Hurts keeps his legs churning, and one or two teammates push him forward from behind. The physicality is undeniable, and the mechanics have made it nearly impossible to stop.

Last season, the Eagles converted the play on more than 90% of attempts, including critical fourth downs and red-zone situations. It became so effective that opposing coaches – and even a few league executives – began calling for the NFL to ban it, arguing it gives an unfair advantage by turning the sneak into a coordinated rugby scrum.

The league reviewed the play this offseason but ultimately left it legal for 2025. The Eagles’ Week 6 performance served as a reminder of why that decision remains divisive.

Even when the Giants’ defensive line played it perfectly three times in a row, Philadelphia simply refused to abandon it.

“As long as it’s legal, we’re gonna keep running it,” Sirianni said earlier this season. “It’s who we are. It’s what we do.”

Thursday night was proof that Sirianni means every word.

The Giants’ Best Effort Still Fell Short

Credit the Giants’ defensive front — they played the “Tush Push” about as well as any team has all season. Lawrence, Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux all met Hurts at the line of scrimmage multiple times, stonewalling him before he could fall forward.

At one point, you could see the frustration in Hurts’ body language after the third attempt. The pile barely moved, and the officials had to untangle a mass of bodies to even spot the ball. Yet the Eagles’ offense didn’t blink.

On the fourth attempt, Kelce and right guard Cam Jurgens fired out low and reset the leverage battle, giving Hurts just enough daylight to muscle his way across.

“We knew it was coming,” Lawrence said afterward. “Everybody knows what they’re gonna do down there. You can prepare all week, get your pad level right, hit your keys — and they can still move you that extra half-yard. That’s what makes it so tough.”

A Defining Identity Play for Philly

For all the jokes, memes, and hot takes surrounding it, the “Tush Push” embodies the Eagles’ offensive philosophy under Sirianni: power, trust, and relentlessness.

It’s not flashy. It’s not elegant. But it’s brutally effective.

Hurts has turned it into an art form, combining his strength and balance to convert what would be low-percentage plays for most quarterbacks. The Eagles’ offensive line, led by veterans Kelce and Lane Johnson, consistently wins the leverage battle.

And even with defenses selling out to stop it, Philadelphia’s willingness to call it repeatedly sends a message: You know it’s coming — stop it if you can.

The Broader Conversation: Should It Be Banned?

Every time the Eagles use the “Tush Push,” the conversation reignites. Is it too dangerous? Too unfair? Too gimmicky?

Former players have been split on the issue. Some call it pure football — a test of strength and execution. Others argue it distorts the game’s competitive balance by turning short-yardage plays into near-automatic conversions.

But if Thursday night proved anything, it’s that even the play’s critics can’t deny its drama. The sight of 22 players colliding in a pile of sheer willpower might be unconventional, but it’s compelling.

As one fan joked on social media after the touchdown: “The Tush Push is football in its purest, weirdest form. I can’t look away.”

What It Means Going Forward

For the Eagles, the drive underscored what makes them such a difficult team to beat in tight games. When everything else fails — when the passing game stalls or the run game sputters — they have a play in their pocket that almost always delivers.

Even in a night that ended in a 34–17 loss to the Giants, that single drive captured what Philadelphia football has come to represent: resilience through repetition.

As long as it remains legal, expect to see plenty more “Tush Pushes” this season — and plenty more defensive linemen shaking their heads afterward.

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