It's not every day that someone on the opposite side of the Tush Push conversation would actually support the Philadelphia Eagles on the matter.
The Buffalo Bills were one of the NFL teams that were outspoken about the play being run and twice voted for the Tush Push to be banned during the owners' meetings this offseason. It twice did not get the votes needed to pass as the Eagles can continue to run the play in 2025.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen came to the defense of the play during an interview with Sports Illustrated. His stance is clear on what everyone else says: learn how to stop it.
"I'm a big believer in if you can't stop it, keep running it, right?" Allen said via CBS Sports. "I think that there's a few teams that do it better than others, but then you look at a few teams that try to do it, and it doesn't have the same success. Because, one, they maybe don't practice it enough or, two, they don't have the guys to do it. And just because a couple teams do it better than others, I don't feel like it should be banned.
I understand the merit of what it brings and so I don't really sway one way or the other. I try to play the game based on the interpretation of the rules. And if that was the rule that was passed, you know, we'll find a different way. But I feel like if you can use it to your benefit, use it to your benefit. If you don't like it, my advice is to stop it, you know?"
Allen's defense of the play make more sense than some might think
It's odd to hear someone from Buffalo defend the play since Bills head coach Sean McDermott and the rest of the organization made their stance known. They believe the play could be potentially harmful to player's healthy, but there have been no reported injuries resulting from the play.
Allen might appreciate the play more than most in the NFL might think. Why? Buffalo actually runs the quarterback sneak more than anyone else in the NFL besides the Eagles.
Since 2021, Pro Football Focus shared that the Eagles have run a QB sneak 145 times. The second-place team is the Bills, who have run it 77 times.
PFF went the extra step and looked at "QB sneaks with an RB/FB Depth of three or fewer yards and with two or fewer yards to go." The results were surprising as the Bills converted more of those than the Eagles. Buffalo converted 84% of those types of QB sneaks while the Eagles were 83%.
It makes sense in a way for Allen to defend the play because his size makes him a perfect candidate to run the Tush Push. He has been able to utilize it and perform better than Hurts has.
Not sure how the Bills brass will feel about Allen defending the Tush Push, but it's nice to know that there is support for it from a team that Eagles fans wouldn't think to look for support.
