It was the kind of moment that left fans blinking in disbelief. The Eagles were lined up at the one-yard line, ready to unleash their nearly unstoppable “tush push.” The Commanders’ defense was desperate to stop the play. Hence, they tried everything—including jumping offside repeatedly. Then came the referee Shawn Hochuli’s announcement…
One more penalty and a touchdown could be awarded. Yes, awarded. Cue the chaos. Fans immediately took to social media on Hochuli. And their collective bewilderment was filling timelines. What kind of rule allows a referee to hand out points like candy? And why hadn’t anyone heard of it before? The moment became the talk of the NFL as the dust settled. But what does the rulebook actually say about awarding touchdowns? Let’s dive in…
The rulebook shock: Can Hochuli really award touchdowns?
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Surprisingly, the answer is yes. The NFL rulebook explicitly states that referees can award a touchdown under certain circumstances. In this case, it was Rule 12, Section 3, Article 4 that applied. ESPN’s Jeff Darlington even posted about it.
He shared a snapshot of the rule on social media. “I’d never heard of a rule that allowed referees to award a team a score,” Darlington admitted. But what does the rule actually say?
I’d never heard of a rule that allowed referees to award a team a score as was suggested by the official in the Commanders-Eagles game, but sure enough, here it is. Rule 12, Section 3, Article 4. pic.twitter.com/wmDHe5s2d2
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 26, 2025
“For a palpably unfair act: Offender may be disqualified. The Referee, after consulting the officiating crew, enforces any such distance penalty as they consider equitable and irrespective of any other specified code penalty. The Referee may award a score,” it states. This was the exact situation the Commanders were facing.
Commanders’ repeated offside penalties while trying to stop the tush push raised suspicion. Officials warned Washington that their actions could be deemed intentional. “Washington has been advised that at some point the referees can award a score if this type of behavior happens again,” Shawn Hochuli said. The revelation left fans scratching their heads. However, some argue it gave the offense an unfair advantage.
Still, the Commanders’ strategy was clear. Disrupt the Eagles’ timing at all costs. However, their gamble didn’t pay off. Philadelphia eventually punched in the touchdown on their own. Hence, they avoided the need for Hochuli and co. to invoke the rule. However, the controversy didn’t end there.
The tush push debate: Is it ruining football?
In addition to decisions by Shawn Hochuli, if there’s one play that stirs endless debate… it’s the Eagles’ tush push. The NFL enthusiasts and even players can’t seem to agree on whether it belongs in the game. The Commanders’ desperation to stop it only reignited these arguments.
Social media buzzed with calls to ban the play entirely. “The tush push isn’t football—it’s a joke,” one fan wrote. Another chimed in, “The tush push has become insufferable It needs to d-e” The frustration is understandable. The play is generally led by Jalen Hurts. And it has become virtually unstoppable. Hence, it leaves defenses with few options.
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Critics argue that the play isn’t just hard to defend. It’s also boring to watch. Others claim it gives the offense an unfair edge. Yet Eagles’ fans see it differently… they see it as smart football.
The league has debated banning the tush push before. But this incident could reignite those conversations. After all, no one wants repeated penalty chaos or referees threatening to award touchdowns.
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The Eagles walked away with a decisive victory. And they scored on the controversial drive without Shawn Hochuli’s intervention. But the moment raised critical questions. Should referees have the power to award touchdowns? And is the “tush push” undermining the spirit of the game?
The NFL will probably revisit these debates with the offseason looming. The looming offseason and Shawn Hochuli’s decisions leave fans wondering if such moments offer a glimpse into the league’s future. Or just an oddity in an already wild season?
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