Green Bay Heads to the Belly of the Beast: Eagles and Their Dreaded Tush Push Await
After spending the offseason trying to ban the tush push, the Green Bay Packers now know when they must defend against it.
On Tuesday, the NFL continued to slowly trickle out games set for the 2025 regular season, and it revealed the Packers and Eagles will meet on “Monday Night Football” in Week 10 (Nov. 10).
That gives the Packers plenty of time during practice to devise a scheme to stop the Eagles’ short-yardage QB keeper. But that’s easier said than done. Per CBS Sports, Philadelphia gained a first down or touchdown on 82 percent of its tush push attempts last season.
In March, the Packers proposed a rule change banning the tush push. It was tabled for future discussion during the NFL’s owner meeting from March 30-April 2.
Green Bay should probably spend more time figuring out how to keep Philadelphia out of those situations altogether by preventing them from third- and fourth-and-1s.
It will be a big test for the Packers, who lost twice to the Eagles last season, including Week 1 in Brazil and on the road in the wild-card round.
In the two games, the Eagles scored 56 points and rushed for 313 yards on 72 carries (4.3 yards per carry).
The Packers were otherwise strong against the run in 2024, finishing seventh in rushing yards allowed (99.7 yards per game) and third in yards per attempt (four).
They weren’t the only team to struggle against the Eagles and running back Saquon Barkley, who led the NFL with 2,005 rushing yards last season. He had 228 rushing yards on 49 carries and three total touchdowns against Green Bay.
As much as the tush push is a thorn in their side, Barkley is the bigger problem. If he repeats last year’s performances, Green Bay might want to consider a rule banning him next offseason
