Uncalled False Start During Eagles‘ Tush Push Reignites Rule Change Debate
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – An uncalled false start by Philadelphia Eagles guard Tyler Steen during a fourth-down “tush push” play near the new York Giants‘ end zone on Monday night has intensified scrutiny of the controversial play and fueled renewed calls for a rule change. Replays clearly showed Steen firing off the line before the snap, but no penalty was flagged during the Eagles’ eventual touchdown drive.
The incident comes as the NFL grapples with the difficulty of officiating the play, officially known as a quarterback sneak, and a growing movement to ban it.In May, 22 of 32 NFL teams – 68.75 percent of the league – voted to eliminate the “tush push,” requiring only two of the remaining ten teams to change their vote for the measure to pass. The play’s effectiveness, coupled with concerns about player safety and officiating challenges, has made it a focal point of debate.
“He was early in super-slow motion,” Prime Video rules analyst Terry McAulay said during the broadcast. “If we show it in real time, I bet it wasn’t quite as obvious.” This observation underscores the argument that the play is too challenging for officials to accurately assess in live game action. some speculate that uncalled penalties, like the one Monday night, could be intentional, designed to build a case for a ban.
The Eagles successfully ran the “tush push” play four consecutive times, culminating in a touchdown. Beyond officiating concerns, the play recently faced renewed scrutiny following a knee injury sustained by Giants defensive lineman D.J.Davidson during a “tush push” attempt.
The Giants themselves considered employing a tactic of repeatedly jumping offside, similar to the Washington Commanders’ strategy during the NFC Championship game, where three consecutive offsides penalties prompted a warning from referee Shawn Hochuli about awarding a touchdown to the opposing team. Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira suggested the spectacle from that game “could spark a fresh assault on the rule,” and the latest uncalled penalty appears to be accelerating that process.
