
Eagles’ Nick Sirianni told referees Commanders’ tush push antics ‘can be a TD’
NY Post
As if the tush push isn’t tough enough to defend already, the Eagles knew they had an obscure rule in their pocket to help them if opposing teams go overboard in attempting to stop the play.
Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni revealed he reminded the referees during Sunday’s NFC Championship game that the officials could award the Eagles a touchdown if the Commanders kept jumping offsides in an attempt to stop the short-yardage rushing play in the 55-23 beatdown.
Referee Shawn Hochuli warned Washington of the potential touchdown that could be awarded after a third straight encroachment penalty.
“I said to the referees on the side, ‘Hey, they keep doing this, it can be a touchdown, right?’” Sirianni said Tuesday. “And they said, ‘Yeah, that is correct.’”
It’s fair to say many did not know NFL referees had the power to award teams touchdowns until Hochuli announced that rarely used rule could be utilized in said situations.
The Eagles faced a second-and-goal from the one-yard line before Washington went offsides on three straight plays while trailing, 34-23.

Suddenly, someone had hit a rewind button and everyone had been transported back seven months. It was early spring instead of late fall, it was broiling hot outside the arena walls and not freezing cold. Everyone was back at TD Garden. There were 19,156 frenzied fans on their feet begging for blood, poised for the kill.












