“They voted it down? Unbelievable.” The room went silent before erupting in a mix of sighs and chuckles. NFL owners decided once again not to ban the Tush Push. And now the Green Bay Packers must brace for a Week 10 showdown in Philadelphia—where that very play has become a near-automatic first down. Almost like the league dares you to stop it.
Now, before you hit the “What’s the big deal?” button, consider this: Matt LaFleur didn’t grow up calling “Elf on the Shelf” plays a rite of passage. He learned football the old way—under the watchful eye of his mentor, Mike McCarthy, in frigid Wisconsin winters, drilling fundamentals until fingers bled. That upbringing still fuels LaFleur’s insistence on technique over theatrics. And yes, it led to a few locker-room debates about “going rogue” instead of playing core football.
Then came the question every reporter’s been trying to ask when pressed on the NFL vote: “Is there any reason to think it’ll change this time around?”. LaFleur leaned back, cracked a grin, and said it plainly: “I’m obviously not a part of the voting process, so it doesn’t really matter what I think. I just, I’m kind of. It’s like, make a decision, and we’ll go and adjust.” That line? It laid bare Green Bay’s stance. No more complaining. No more grandstanding. They’ll draft a counter strike. They’ll stumble in practice. They’ll tweak. Philadelphia, unsurprisingly, reveled in the result.
Within hours, the Eagles’ YouTube channel dropped a cheeky “26 Minutes of the Tush Push” highlights reel. It was an equal parts celebration and a statement: “Push On,” as their graphic on X simply read. Inside the Packers’ facility this week, the volume of film sessions has gone up tenfold. Coaches are running simulated Tush Push drills against scout-team linemen in green and silver. The defense is installing mic’d-up “ghost” QBs to test reaction times. It’s methodical. It’s detailed. And it’s drawn from cold data: the Philadelphia Eagles have converted 85% of their Tush Push tries in short yardage since last season. And by the time Sunday rolls around, they’ll have a blueprint ready for Philly’s signature ploy.
Will Matt LaFleur’s new defensive blueprint neutralize Philadelphia’s signature play?
The Packers’ push to outlaw the “Tush Push” fell just short—NFL owners voted 22–10 against the ban, needing 24 “yes” votes to pass the measure brought by Green Bay’s front office. The first line of defense starts with alignment. Just like their wild-card playoff loss to the Eagles, they came up two short, leaving Philadelphia’s signature shove play firmly in the rulebook. But for Matt LaFleur and the Packers, celebration isn’t an option—it’s adaptation.
With Week 10 looming in Lincoln Financial Field, Green Bay’s coaches have amped up their practice plan, simulating the play with scout-team linemen and installing spy-linebacker packages to recognize the shove pre-snap. LaFleur’s “we’ll go and adjust” stance isn’t lip service—it’s already in motion on the green-and-gold film room walls. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry has called for an over-shift to the strong side, daring the offense to commit extra blockers. In theory, that extra gap could be just enough to derail the shove.
Next up: training camp veteran T.J. Slaton will rotate in as a full-time nose guard. His leverage in the middle should clog the A-gap run lanes. Then there’s the spy element. Linebacker Quay Walker’s role expands this week. He’s tasked with reading the center’s hips and filling open space post-snap—almost like a free safety in the box. Walker admitted to reporters, “If they get that push, they’ll get that push. But I’m in their hip pocket all day until they rethink it.”
Finally, special teams coach Maurice Drayton has slotted two extra jukes into punt returns. Why? If the Tush Push stalls near the goal line, Philly might punt on fourth-and-one. That’s Green Bay’s window to swing momentum. Drayton joked, “If we can’t stop the push, at least we can pin them deep and make them work on every yard.” The result? A Packers defense that enters Lincoln Financial Field this Sunday armed, alert, and ready to turn the league’s most controversial play into just another routine chore.
In this league, the only guarantee is you’ll have to adapt—just like Matt said. And if his Packers can’t solve the riddle of the Tush Push by Week 10, well, there’s always plan B. But for now, keep your eyes on that sideline playbook. This Sunday might just prove that innovation always meets its match in preparation. All of which sets the stage for a fascinating Week 10 rematch—can Green Bay finally solve the puzzle, or will Philadelphia’s shove remain undefeated?
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