Referee threatens to use NFL rule for first-time ever to penalize Commanders' Frankie Luvu in Eagles game
Referee threatens to use NFL rule for first-time ever to penalize Commanders' Frankie Luvu in Eagles game
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In a bizarre circumstance, a referee threatened to award a touchdown by a never-before-used rule in the history of the National Football League. During the NFC Championship game between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles, the Eagles were looking to add to their lead with the ball on the one yard line.
![[Luvu (seen mid-air) jumped twice in an attempt to stop Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (1) from pushing forward for a touchdown. One of Luvu's teammates then jumped offside a third time in a row.]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/26/23/94541813-14327869-image-a-278_1737933859148.jpg)
The Eagles lined up for their iconic 'tush push' play where the offensive line was set to shove their opponents in a pseudo-rugby scrum to try and gain the extra yard. But before the play began, Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu tried jumping over his defensive line and Philadelphia's offensive line to tackle Eagles QB Jalen Hurts before he could get into the end zone. He was flagged for encroachment.
![[Referee Shawn Hochuli threatened to award a touchdown to Philly if they jumped offside again]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/26/23/94541819-14327869-image-a-280_1737933869139.jpg)
The referees moved the ball ever-so-slightly toward the goal and replayed the down. Once again, the Eagles lined up for the tush push and once again, Luvu jumped over the two lines to try and tackle Hurts. Once again, he was flagged for encroachment. At this point, the officials couldn't have moved the ball any closer to the goal line and the Eagles once again lined up for the tush push. This time, before the ball was snapped, defensive lineman Jonathan Allen appeared to stumble at the line and was flagged for encroachment a third time.
![[While an NFL team has never been awarded a touchdown for intentionally breaking the rules, Eagles coach Buddy Ryan was fined for intentionally sending too many men on the field in 1989]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/26/23/94541817-14327869-image-a-281_1737933871527.jpg)
Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu (4) repeatedly jumped offsides against the Eagles. Luvu (seen mid-air) jumped twice in an attempt to stop Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (1) from pushing forward for a touchdown. One of Luvu's teammates then jumped offside a third time in a row.
