‘Incredibly Disrespectful’ — Eagles Star Fires Back at Critics Claiming Tush Push Is Only Reason Philly Beat Chiefs

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The Philadelphia Eagles have gotten their Super Bowl defence off to the perfect start with two wins in the opening two weeks of the season. The Eagles have assembled one of the most stacked rosters in recent memory, topped off in 2024 by the arrival of Saquon Barkley in free agency.

However, not all NFL fans are as convinced by the team’s on-field ability, and put much of Philadelphia’s success down to the now-infamous tush-push. One Eagles player has challenged that narrative, stating there is far more to the team than one play.

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Eagles Star Defends Teammates Amid Latest Wave of Tush-Push Criticism

The tush-push controversy is seemingly going nowhere, with more outrage stemming from a play in Philadelphia’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The team’s offensive line committed multiple penalties on important tush-push plays, all of which were missed by officials.

Teams voted on whether to ban the controversial play at the NFL owners meeting earlier in the year, with the play surviving by two votes. Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata spoke to 94 WIP sports radio and acknowledged the fury felt by some fans, but rejected the idea that the team relied on the play.

 “I understand it; I understand the outrage,” he said. “What I don’t understand is them using it as an excuse for why we won the game. I think it’s incredibly disrespectful to our defense and our special teams, who balled out.”

Mailata claimed that his teammates on defense and special teams had put the team in the position to win the game and that basing their victory on one play was a mistake. The veteran tackle, who is in his sixth year in the NFL, is clearly fed up with hearing about the play’s influence on the game as an integral part of the play itself.

However, it’s not just fans and analysts who have become tired of the play. The NFL’s former vice president of officiating, Dean Blandino, has also had enough. During the Eagles’ game against the Chiefs, Blandino was asked to give his take on air and couldn’t have been less enthused.

“I’m done with the tush-push, guys,” he said. It’s a hard play to officiate like we’ve been talking about… really hard to see what’s happening with the football.”

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Opinions were split on the play ahead of the season, but the poor officiating on offsides and false starts has been almost unanimously condemned. It would seem as though the play may be in its final year of existence, but Eagles fans will enjoy the ride while it lasts.

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