It's safe to say that one of the most hated plays in football right now is the Tush Push. The Philadelphia Eagles have perfected the move, and it's been both hailed as innovative and chastised as ruining the spirit of the game.
The reason most people hate it is because it almost always works. If the Eagles are in a short yardage situation -- either trying to extend a drive or score a touchdown -- the play is almost always automatic.
It's not perfect, though, and it's not impossible to stop it.
That's something the Tampa Bay Buccaneers proved on Monday in the finale of Wild Card Weekend.
Awesome alternate angle of Bucs stopping Eagles Tush Push
After the Eagles scored their first touchdown of the game on a pass to Dallas Goedert, it appeared they would be kicking an extra point and making it a six point game. However, Zyon McCollum jumped offsides and the entire situation changed on a dime
The penalty allowed the Eagles to try again but also attempt a two point conversion to close the gap even further. We all knew what was going to happen next, as the ball on the 1-yard line meant the controversial Tush Push was coming right at the Bucs defense.
Unlike the other times the play has been run, Tampa Bay stuffed it and kept the Eagles out of the endzone.
.@Buccaneers stop the 2-pt tush push!!
β NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2024
πΊ: #PHIvsTB on ESPN/ABC
π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/rFlj59UzNi pic.twitter.com/Lpl1piR1IY
One fan in the endzone stands captured an awesome alternate angle that we didn't see on the television broadcast.
Tush Push, my ass!#PHIvsTB#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/92OXnil8nf
β THE OUTSIDE LEVERAGE (@OutsideLeverage) January 16, 2024
Meanwhile, fans watching at home provided excellent meme content to celebrate the Tush Push getting stuffed.
The Bucs STOPPED THE TUSH PUSH?
β Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 16, 2024
Pirates have always been about their booty.
When the Eagles fail a tush push: pic.twitter.com/OfcYuJbM6X
β Eli Hershkovich (@EliHershkovich) January 16, 2024
When the tush push fails on the goal line pic.twitter.com/8Td18rn8JP
β Robby Kalland (@RKalland) January 16, 2024
βdeath of the tush pushβ
β Kay Adams (@heykayadams) January 16, 2024
written by: vita vea
Bucs Smush The Tush Push pic.twitter.com/HLFfiYGfw7
β David Harrison (@DHarrison82) January 16, 2024
Bucs STOP THE TUSH PUSH.
β PewterReport π΄ββ οΈ (@PewterReport) January 16, 2024
Your Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only team that can stop the unstoppable play.
When the tush push does not work pic.twitter.com/R6SNlcBVqz
β The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) January 16, 2024
Did the Buccaneers get away with a facemask while stopping the Tush Push?
Eagles fans had a different perspective, though. A closer look appears to show the BUcs getting away with a facemask that would have given the Eagles another shot at a two point conversion. The chances of stopping the Tush Push once are low enough, and it's unlikely Tampa Bay would have been able to keep the Eagles out twice.
missed face mask at the end
β Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 16, 2024
no call pic.twitter.com/XpqBkhvzjv
The facemask went uncalled, and we were all reminded that the Tush Push is hardly an undefeated play.