Buffalo Bills Believe There's 'A Technique' To Stop Philadelphia Eagles 'Tush Push'
The Philadelphia Eagles have the NFL's best record at 9-1 for a multitude of reasons, but a big one is that they are extremely difficult to defend in short-yardage situations.
What makes them so difficult to defend in such situations is the fact that they're the masters of the most controversial play in the NFL today. The "Tush Push," the "Brotherly Shove" or whatever one calls it, the play has become part of the Eagles' identity. With a big and mobile quarterback in Jalen Hurts and an outstanding offensive line and two other players pushing him forward, the play is nearly a guaranteed success when. Philadelphia needs only a yard or two.
As the Buffalo Bills prepare to head into Philadelphia for a tough road game on Sunday, stopping the "Tush Push" is a top priority. While few have been successful in doing so, Bills defensive lineman Ed Oliver believes there is indeed a method to the madness.
Oliver celebrates a big play against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 24.
© Brad Mills, USA TODAY
“Hopefully we keep them out of that down and distance so we don’t have to defend it,” Oliver said. “I think there’s a technique to stop it. Nobody just ain’t figured it out yet.
“It seems hard to stop, but I think if you can… I don’t know, s—. Everybody else ain’t been able to stop it, who am I to say you can stop it here?”
Despite the "Tush Push" being so controversial, the Eagles are the only team to consistently find success with it. Even against the best defensive lines in the game, they've managed to give their opponents fits at nearly every turn. For the Bills to break the trend, it will take a Herculean effort.
“That’s on the big boys up front,” Bills safety Micah Hyde said. “It kind of turns into rugby but that’s on those big boys up front. I might be behind them, pushing them, trying to give them a boost, but [the Eagles] are good at it.”
Oliver is in the midst of his best season yet, already posting career-highs with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Facing off against the Eagles' will be a very tall order, but he believes it can be done.
