NFL under pressure? Calls for two key rule changes

November 20, 2025 Oliver Obel

Philadelphia’s 34–17 loss to the New York Giants would have been notable on its own, marking the Eagles’ first pair of back-to-back defeats in two years, according to AP game reports. But the game’s on-field results quickly took a back seat.

What drew most attention afterward was the Eagles’ heavy use of the “tush push,” the power surge in which Jalen Hurts drives forward behind teammates who apply a shove from directly behind the line. Philadelphia ran the play four straight times on its first touchdown drive — and social media lit up almost immediately.

Green Bay linebacker Micah Parsons was among the first to weigh in, posting on X, “This is not football.” Several fans echoed that sentiment. One user, @stoolpresidente, argued the tactic “ruins the game,” while others complained it obscures minor infractions that often go uncalled.

The debate isn’t new. As Reuters noted during the NFL’s annual meetings, owners narrowly voted down a Green Bay proposal that would have prohibited pushing or pulling the ball-carrier in any direction. The measure fell just two votes short of passage. Short-yardage tactics have been a recurring point of contention for more than a decade, but Philadelphia’s efficiency has intensified the spotlight.

Critics online said Sunday’s sequence felt predictable. One fan, @ChaseDaniel, questioned why the team ran the play “4x in a row,” suggesting the tactic is drifting from strategy into monotony.

A familiar concern at MetLife: another injury on turf

Meanwhile, a separate safety debate erupted after New York Giants rookie receiver Malick Nabers exited the team’s 21–18 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Early assessments reported by AP and ESPN indicated a likely torn ACL — though the team had not yet issued an official confirmation late Sunday.

The setback renewed scrutiny of MetLife Stadium’s playing surface, which has been criticized for years. Even after a switch to the newer FieldTurf CORE system in 2023, players say the turf still feels unforgiving compared with natural grass.

Odell Beckham Jr., never quiet about his concerns, urged the league to intervene. “PLZ. PLZ. PLZ. GET RID OF THE TURF,” he wrote on X, later calling the venue “DeathLife,” a reference to the number of injuries sustained there.

Data released by the NFL Players Association earlier this year continues to show higher incident rates on artificial turf than on grass. While no single injury can be conclusively tied to a surface, Nabers’ situation added to a growing list of concerns at the stadium.

What comes next

Both controversies — one about competitive integrity, the other about safety — are likely to resurface when league officials meet again later this season. For now, they underscore a broader tension inside the NFL: a sport trying to balance innovation, entertainment, and the well-being of the players at the centre of it all.

Sources: AP, Reuters, BBC, ESPN