NFL Wild-Card Coaching Decisions: Dan Campbell’s Aggressiveness Pays Off
Campbell stayed aggressive in the Lions’ game-clinching drive against the Rams.
Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK
The Philadelphia Eagles limped into the playoffs, but for all their faults, they at least still had the unstoppable “Tush Push” play to possibly help them make another deep postseason run.
But the controversial quarterback sneak ran into 350-pound Vita Vea and the rest of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ beefy defensive front. Once coach Todd Bowles, the Buccaneers’ defensive play-caller, took away the “Tush Push,” the late-season collapse for the Eagles was complete Monday night.
Bowles and his frequent blitz calls smothered quarterback Jalen Hurts, while Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Brian Johnson failed to adjust during the Buccaneers’ lopsided 32–9 victory to advance to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs. Sirianni called for the “Tush Push” on a two-point conversion attempt that was stopped short in the second quarter.
