Will the Eagles’ “Push Push” Become a Go-To Trick Play?

In a surprising twist during the fourth quarter, Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and the Eagles showcased some clever trickery while playing against the Chargers, scoring 13-9 at SoFi Stadium on Monday night.

Lined up for a third-and-one just shy of midfield, the Eagles appeared poised to execute a “hard push.” But instead of making that conventional play, Hurts tossed the ball to Barkley, who dashed down the field for a stunning 52-yard touchdown run. That drive put the Eagles ahead 16-13 after the extra point.

This marked Barkley’s longest run of the game up to that moment.

Despite a game filled with turnovers, which the Eagles ultimately lost 22-19 in overtime, Barkley was seen giving the ball away to excited fans in the stands.

That fake “shove” was one of the more bizarre elements of the Chargers-Eagles matchup. In a playful addition, the game coincided with “Monsters Funday Football” on ESPN 2, featuring characters from “Monsters, Inc.”—a fun surrounding, I think.

Interestingly, in the animated broadcast, Mike Wazowski took the place of Barkley, sprinting for a 52-yard touchdown himself.

The Eagles have indeed made “pushing” a signature move, much to the chagrin of rival NFL teams.

This play has stirred up quite a bit of controversy, with some teams advocating for it to be banned. However, these calls didn’t gather enough support for changes this offseason.

This wasn’t the Eagles’ first attempt at a fake push, either; they had previously executed similar plays, like Baltimore’s Mark Andrews running for a touchdown after lining up for a “push” against the Browns on November 16.