Eagles' Mailata: Idea we beat Chiefs because of tush push is 'bullcrap'
Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata is frustrated with the narrative that Philadelphia won the Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday because of the tush push.
"I understand the outrage (over the tush push). What I don't understand is them using it as an excuse to why we won the game," Mailata said Tuesday on 94WIP. "I think it's incredibly disrespectful to our defense and our special teams who balled out. And my brothers on defense and special teams who balled out that game, who had our backs when we weren't moving the ball or weren't doing anything."
The controversial play has been a hot topic in the media this week. The Eagles ran the play six times versus Kansas City, gaining four first downs and a touchdown. The score came following an interception in the fourth quarter that was returned 41 yards after a pass was deflected off of Travis Kelce's hands and into safety Andrew Mukuba's possession.
"That pisses me off because we give so much to this game and to kind of base off a short-yardage play, that is a football play, and say that we won the game off that, but not how our defense played, not how our special teams have played, putting us in those positions, I think it's bullcrap," Mailata added. "I just think it's rubbish. Absolute rubbish, man. It makes my blood boil just thinking about it."
Fox Sports announcer Tom Brady suggested during the broadcast that the Eagles' offensive guards were getting an early jump on the play. Referee analyst Dean Blandino also said during the game he's "done with the tush push," saying it's tough for the refs to officiate.
The owners took a vote this offseason on banning the play, but the proposal didn't reach the required support for the NFL to outlaw it.
"This game was lost in March," ESPN insider Adam Schefter said on "Get Up" on Monday. "This game was lost when the NFL owners refused to ban the tush push from happening. It wasn't lost yesterday. It was lost in March."
Philadelphia has run the play eight times through two games this season.
The Eagles improved to 2-0 with their 20-17 victory over the Chiefs, and will face off against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3.