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Atlanta Falcons v Dallas Cowboys - NFL Preseason 2025 Sam Hodde/GettyImages

Matt Eberflus admits Tush Push's supremacy before Eagles game

Originally posted on Inside the Iggles | By Gourab Saha | Last updated Sep 1, 2025 4:00 PM ET

Facing the Eagles is like hearing that one song you can’t get out of your head for the Cowboys. It just plays on a loop, a brutal, physical reminder of a neighbor’s dominance. And there's a play that defines a rivalry, a four-quarterback sneak that feels as unstoppable as a Wisconsin snowstorm in January.

That little quarterback sneak with a friendly shove from behind has become the NFL’s version of the four-seam fastball—everyone knows it’s coming and still can’t hit it. This week, the new sheriff in Dallas had to address the elephant in the room. Or more accurately, the push in the tush.

Matt Eberflus, the Cowboys' new defensive coordinator, faced the music. When asked about preparing for the Eagles' infamous "tush push," his response was telling.

Eberflus admitted, "Yeah, I mean, you can see various teams do different things to it, and some teams were successful, and you know it's all about... it's an attitude type of thing." This is a seasoned coach acknowledging a simple truth. Some forces in the league are just a fact of life. You don't stop them. You just hope to survive them.

His comments reveal a daunting task. How do you practice for such a uniquely physical play? Eberflus confirmed the difficulty, stating, "It's certainly not something you're going to see or have the guys do a bunch [at] full speed." You can’t replicate that brutal, short-yardage warfare without risking your own players.

This puts the Cowboys at an immediate schematic disadvantage before a single snap is taken.

A New Defense, A Familiar Problem

The Cowboys' defense is already under a massive microscope. After last season's collapse and the stunning trade of Micah Parsons, all eyes are on Eberflus. His mission is to improve a run defense that has historically been bad. They allowed over 140 rushing yards eight times in 2024. Now, their first test is Saquon Barkley, the league’s reigning rushing king.

Eberflus is preaching a new philosophy centered on "teamwork" over sheer size. He insists stopping the run is about everyone doing their job, especially the corners. This system will be tested immediately. The tush push is the ultimate test of will and technique. It’s a street fight in a phone booth, and the Eagles have the biggest tough guys on the block.

The addition of Kenny Clark from Green Bay is supposed to help anchor the interior. But asking one man to solve this problem is like using a bucket on a sinking ship. The entire unit must be stout. They must possess that "attitude" Eberflus mentioned. The problem is, the Eagles’ attitude, fueled by that play, is already legendary. It’s a mindset that just won a Super Bowl.

This season opener is more than a game. It’s a statement. For the Eagles, it’s about continuing their reign. For the Cowboys and Eberflus, it’s about proving a new era has truly begun. Can a revamped defense with a new attitude stand firm against the league’s most powerful weapon?

We’re about to find that out soon. The entire league will be watching, waiting to see if the push can indeed be stopped.

As they say, “Defense is not unlike a wedding. The groom is commitment. The bride is execution.” On Thursday night, we’ll see if this Dallas defense is ready to say “I do.”

This article first appeared on Inside the Iggles and was syndicated with permission.

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