Following their bye week, the Minnesota Vikings had a home game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Week 7 matchup was a loss for the team, but Kevin O'Connell's guys hung in there with their opponents, last season's Super Bowl champions.
The Eagles do many things well. They seem to have a knack for getting amazing value out of their early draft picks and have assembled a talented, young roster that will be competitive for many years to come.
One thing the Eagles do very well is quarterback sneaks. They have perfected a technique that many call the "Tush Push" to get short yardage and have not been shy in using the play early and often to put points on the board or pick up a first down.
Minnesota Vikings chose a unique way to defend the Tush Push when the Philadelphia Eagles tried it
Philadelphia lined up to attempt the Tush Push late in the first quarter to attempt to pick up a first down on third down with less than a yard to go. However, the Eagles got a defensive look from the Minnesota Vikings that they likely weren't expecting.
The purple and gold were prepared for the play and lined up in a way that could potentially limit any gain they attempted on the play. Although the Eagles were called for a delay of game, the unique plan might change how teams defend the play in the future.
In his first regular-season game as a pro, linebacker Tyler Batty returned from injured reserve in Week 7 to be a key piece in stopping the Tush Push. When the ball was snapped, he laid his body across the middle of the field to stop the plunge of Philadelphia's center into the defense.
That look alone likely confused the Eagles enough to not feel comfortable enough to snap the ball. That defensive strategy, combined with the noise from fans at U.S. Bank Stadium, helped to push Philadelphia back five yards.
The Eagles ran the play again later in the game and barely got the first down, but the play definitely didn't go as smoothly as it had in the past for Jalen Hurts and the team. The official's spot was questionable, but Philly kept their drive alive.
It will be interesting to see if other teams follow the lead of the Minnesota Vikings when defending against the Tush Push from the Philadelphia Eagles. With how successful the play is, the league is likely willing to try anything to slow it down.