As if the tush push isn’t powerful sufficient to defend already, the Eagles knew that they had an obscure rule of their pocket to assist them if opposing groups go overboard in making an attempt to cease the play.
Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni revealed he reminded the referees throughout Sunday’s NFC Championship sport that the officers may award the Eagles a landing if the Commanders stored leaping offsides in an try to cease the short-yardage speeding play within the 55-23 beatdown.
Referee Shawn Hochuli warned Washington of the potential landing that might be awarded after a 3rd straight encroachment penalty.
“I mentioned to the referees on the aspect, ‘Hey, they hold doing this, it may be a landing, proper?’” Sirianni mentioned Tuesday. “And so they mentioned, ‘Yeah, that’s appropriate.’”
It’s honest to say many didn’t know NFL referees had the facility to award groups touchdowns till Hochuli introduced that hardly ever used rule might be utilized in mentioned conditions.
The Eagles confronted a second-and-goal from the one-yard line earlier than Washington went offsides on three straight performs whereas trailing, 34-23.
Washington’s first two penalties concerned a participant leaping excessive of the pile in an try to time the snap, which led to Hochuli saying that the Commanders had been warned that an unsportsmanlike penalty might be referred to as if it occurred once more.
The third encroachment concerned a participant crossing the road early and that’s when Hochuli revealed the weird rule.
“Washington has been suggested that sooner or later the referee can award a rating if this kind of conduct occurs once more,” Hochuli mentioned. “For now, it’s a replay of second down.”
Former NFL guidelines czar and present Fox analyst Mike Pereira revealed that “deliberate” acts such because the repeated penalties can result in a “palpably unfair act.”
Quarterback Jalen Hurts then scored on a tush push to take a 41-23 lead with 12:24 remaining.
Sirianni, who has led the Eagles to the Tremendous Bowl for the second time, mentioned he discovered of the rule from a former Chargers assisant coach Dan Shamash.
He didn’t consider that might be an actual factor at first.
“‘That’s not a rule, are you out of your thoughts?’ I keep in mind saying that to him. That’s not a rule,” Sirianni mentioned. “I keep in mind him being very emphatic with me as a result of he is aware of the foundations very well and telling me it was. I texted him after the sport, ‘Smash, you have been proper.”
Sirianni added that he didn’t discover the sequence humorous, including that he nervous a couple of potential harm. Defenders leaping on offensive linemen’s backs opens the door for potential scary conditions.
Stated Sirianni: “I used to be interested by the protected and well being of our gamers.”