The New York Giants already dealt with heartbreak last week when they blew a 19-0 fourth quarter lead to the Denver Broncos to lose 33-32. But in Week 8, the officiating found ways to infuriate Giants fans and head coach Brian Daboll further.
Facing a fourth and one in the second quarter, the Philadelphia Eagles ran their patented Tush Push play to try and gain the first down. As Hurts ran forward, Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux stripped the football out of his hands for a fumble. The Giants seemingly recovered the football to end the Eagles' threat in the red zone. But, the referees blew the play dead.
The referees gave the Eagles the first down, saying that Hurts had forward progress and that it was stopped. Due to that, the fumble was negated. Daboll was livid after the call.
Giants HC Brian Daboll was not happy about forward progress being called, preventing an Eagles fumble on the 4th down tush push.
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 26, 2025
Philly went on to score a TD in the drive. pic.twitter.com/1UjlmfYKXP
Brian Daboll livid as referees screw Giants out of Tush Push fumble
To make matters that much worse, the play wasn't eligible to be challenged. But Daboll threw a challenge flag anyway, seemingly out of spite and to prove a point. Predictably, the Giants lost the challenge and a timeout.
Shortly after the debacle from the referees, the Eagles predictably capitalized, as Hurts connected with former Giants running back Saquon Barkley for a nine-yard touchdown to give the Eagles a 14-7 lead. This was Barkley's second touchdown of the game, with his first being a 65-yard rush on Philadelphia's opening drive.
It's the worst possibe outcome for the Giants. They had a fumble clear as day and stopped the Tush Push for the first time in a long time. Yet, the referees blew a whistle and ruled forward progress to reward the Eagles. It's no secret that the Tush Push has become a problem for referees to officiate, whether it's false starts missed or lining up ahead of the center. There has been so much controversy surrounding the play this early in the season, the belief is that the play could be banned for good, and not even a Jason Kelce plea could save it.
We can now add this call to the prosecution's case to ban the Tush Push for good. A positive play by Thibodeaux was canceled out due to the officiating.