As the NFL finds itself in for another year mired in confusion with regards to how to properly officiate the Tush Push play that the Philadelphia Eagles have seemingly perfected, the revitalized Jaxson Dart and the New York Giants were just on the receiving end of a decision that will only get the anti-Push crowd even more riled up.
With the Eagles driving deep into Giants territory in a 7-7 game during their Week 8 tussle, it looked like Kayvon Thibodeaux was on the verge of forcing a Hurts fumble by ripping the ball out of the star quarterback's hands. However, the officials proceeded to immediately invalidate that turnover with a move that was shocking in how much it flipped the momentum.
The officials ruled Hurts' forward progress stopped before the ball was officially ripped out, which sent Brian Daboll into an almost incomprehensible fury. What happened next could have been predicted by just about anyone with half a brain.
Hurts finished off the drive with a touchdown pass to Saquon Barkley, putting Philadelphia up 14-7 as they try to send their division rival spiraling to a 2-6 start on the season. If the officials actually knew the mechanics of how this play works, perhaps the Giants would have had a takeaway here.
Giants screwed by refs after pitiful no-call on Eagles' Tush Push
While defenders of the Push will point to the fact that only the Eagles seem to be able to run the play effectively, thus not conferring any unfair advantage, the fact that it is impossible to correctly call as a play from a referee's perspective is what many non-Eagles fans seem to be frustrated with.
Eagles players will often move before the ball is snapped, it remains unclear what counts as forward progress as a runner, and the pile of bodies at the center of the play makes it impossible to determine if the quarterback is down. Diving at the knees of defensive players certainly doesn't help things.
As long as the Eagles are seemingly allowed to do whatever they want on the tush push, including getting away with some clear turnovers, it seems hard to imagine a world where the Giants can win.