One of the better Nick Sirianni postgame press conference answers right here:

The question was “what kind of psychological edge” does he think the Brotherly Shove gives the team.

Full answer:

“It’s first and nine every down. Every first down, it’s first and nine. Knowing that if you get to fourth and one, shoot, a lot of faith in that play. It was awesome. Again, Jason Kelce starts it off. Jalen Hurts was right there. Because you’ve seen it across the league that people can’t do it like we can do it. They can’t do it like we can do it. I’m making my plug right there. Like don’t ban this play. Like if everyone could do it, everybody would. Where is the camera? If everybody could do it, everybody would do it.”

Ding ding ding, we have a winner!

It’s true, and it’s what Eagles fans have been saying since the beginning. If the play is so “unstoppable,” then why can’t anybody else do it? Pagan put together a highlight-reel of failed shoves to prove the point. The Giants injured two of their own players trying to do it. The Cowboys’ shove went for zero yards. You want Dallas Dallas?


It’s also a good point when people say that the Eagles would probably convert even if the NFL banned the pushing part of the play. The Birds have an elite offensive line and a QB who can squat six million pounds. They’re probably getting the first down whether someone is shoving or not. Plus, nobody bitched when Tom Brady was doing that over and over, year after year. The Brotherly Shove really is just a modified QB sneak.

And don’t even get me started on the “it’s not a football play” argument. There’s nothing inherently more football than 11 dudes on one side trying to outmuscle 11 dudes on the other side. It is innately football. I can’t think of anything that is MORE football than the Brotherly Shove. Crybaby fans and media just hate it because it’s not their team doing it.