Giants Get Bad News on Tush Push

The Philadelphia Eagles don’t need any help beating the New York Giants, but being gifted running back Saquon Barkley certainly didn’t hurt. He trampled the Giants in his return to East Rutherford, rushing for 176 yards and a score. Even against Philadelphia’s B-team, New York fell short in Week 18, 20-13.

The Giants have won just one of their last eight and four of their last 23 games against the Eagles.

This is about as one-sided as a rivalry can get, and New York’s job isn’t getting easier anytime soon.

On Wednesday, the Giants’ rival got good news on a potential “tush push” ban. The league’s owners voted not to ban the play, with 22 teams voting for the motion, per Adam Schefter. While it was a majority, 24 votes were needed to ban it.

Subsequently, Philadelphia can continue to run the play that has defined its short-yardage situations. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has logged 55 touchdowns in five seasons, with an increasing commitment to the tush push in recent seasons.

It’s worth noting that there were valid arguments both for and against the infamous play, but this isn’t some league-driven boost to prop up Philadelphia. The Eagles would be worse off without the tush push. However, they’d still run wildly successful quarterback sneaks, and there isn’t much to suggest it would really move the needle. This is as much of an aesthetic discussion as a competitiveness one.

The Giants will still have to deal with this (almost) unstoppable play when they take on the Eagles in Weeks 6 and 8. Fortunately, they will be more prepared.

Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence will be armed with rookie lineman Darius Alexander, adding credibility to the interior. Edge rusher Abdul Carter and a revamped secondary should help keep Philadelphia behind the sticks, too.

Other developments came to pass at the meeting. The NFL unveiled the Protector of the Year Award, meant to highlight the league’s best offensive lineman. Further, New York will make its “Hard Knocks” return, joining the NFC East in the in-division version of the show.