The Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders met for the third time this season in the NFC championship game. The NFC East foes split their season series with one team winning a game each.
At the end of three quarters, the Commanders had cut the Eagles’ lead to 34-23. Philadelphia drove 50 yards at the start of the fourth quarter to near the goal line for another touchdown.
As they had multiple times, Philadelphia lined up in the formation for its infamous ‘Tush Push’ play with quarterback Jalen Hurts set to run it in behind the offensive line with help from players lined up in the backfield.
But Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu jumped over the line multiple times to disrupt the play for back-to-back encroachment penalties. Commanders lineman Jonathan Allen was also flagged for encroachment on the next attempt, leading referee Shawn Hochuli to announce a warning.
“Washington has been advised that at some point the referees can award a score if this type of behavior happens again,’ Hochuli said. ‘For now, it’s a replay of second down.’
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The Commanders did not move early on the next attempt and Hurts scored on a run up the middle.
Hochuli provided more details about his warning after the game, via a pool report.
‘Simply put, a team can’t commit multiple fouls in an effort to prevent the score,’ Hochuli said. ‘So, No. 4 (Luvu) jumped the ball a couple of times, that was when the warning came in. Again, if it’s meant to prevent a score, we can essentially award the score.’
Hochuli was also asked whether the Eagles utilizing a hard count would have an impact on the play. He implied that it didn’t, as Philadelphia could only try the hard count so many times before the play clock expires.
‘There’s a play clock that prevents them from doing that too many times,’ Hochuli explained. ‘With the defense, since we deem it as an effort to prevent the score – a repeated act – that’s where the potential for awarding the score comes in.”
Hochuli’s assessment is backed by rule 11, section 2, article 1.5 of the NFL rule book regarding scoring plays. That article states a touchdown can be scored when ‘the Referee awards a touchdown to a team that has been denied one by a palpably unfair act.’