The Philadelphia Eagles don’t exactly need assistance to defeat the New York Giants, but acquiring running back Saquon Barkley certainly didn’t hurt. In his return to East Rutherford, Barkley torched his former team, racking up 176 rushing yards and a touchdown. Despite facing Philadelphia’s backup squad in Week 18, the Giants still came up short, losing 20-13.
The Giants have now dropped seven of their last eight games—and 19 of their last 23—against the Eagles, making this one of the most lopsided rivalries in the league. Unfortunately for New York, the outlook isn’t improving.
On Wednesday, the Eagles got more good news when a proposed ban on the “tush push” play was voted down by NFL owners. Although 22 teams supported the ban, it fell short of the 24 votes needed to pass, according to Adam Schefter. This means Philadelphia can continue utilizing the play that has become a staple in their short-yardage strategy. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has scored 55 touchdowns over five seasons, with the tush push becoming increasingly central to his red zone success.
While opinions on the controversial play vary, the league’s decision wasn’t a special favor to Philadelphia. It’s true the Eagles would be less effective without it, but they’ve proven capable of executing quarterback sneaks successfully regardless. The debate is as much about optics as it is about fairness.
The Giants will face this nearly unstoppable play twice in the upcoming season, during Weeks 6 and 8. This time, however, they’ll be better equipped.
Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence will be supported by rookie lineman Darius Alexander, adding strength to the middle. Edge rusher Abdul Carter and a bolstered secondary should also help slow down Philadelphia’s offense.
Additionally, the league introduced the “Protector of the Year Award” to recognize the NFL’s top offensive lineman. New York was also announced as a participant in the new in-division edition of “Hard Knocks,” joining their NFC East rivals on the show.
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