Eagles’ fourth-down aggression earns high marks from PFF
· Yahoo Sports
Few plays in NFL history have sparked as much debate as the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback sneak. Think about that for a moment. An offensive play became so successful that rival organizations pushed for league intervention. The argument wasn't that the play was illegal. The argument was that the Eagles executed it too well. Ultimately, Philadelphia won that battle. The Brotherly Shove survived another challenge, and the Eagles continued doing what they've done for years: converting fourth downs at one of the highest rates in professional football.
This time around, no bans were discussed. The 'Tush Push' will live on for another season in 2026.
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Recently, Pro Football Focus examined the NFL's most and least aggressive teams on fourth down over the past five seasons. Unsurprisingly, the Eagles found themselves among the league's elite organizations. The data tells an impressive story.
The Eagles earn their mention as one of the NFL's best 4th-down teams over the past five seasons
According to PFF, Philadelphia converted 63 percent of its fourth-down attempts from 2021 through 2025. Only two teams finished ahead of them. The Kansas City Chiefs led the NFL at 67 percent, while the Los Angeles Rams ranked second at 64.6 percent. Philadelphia finished third, ahead of teams such as the Buffalo Bills (62.6 percent) and Washington Commanders (61.2 percent). That company should sound familiar. Those organizations have consistently been among the NFL's most competitive teams during that stretch. PFF noted that maintaining possession through successful fourth-down conversions has likely played a role in those teams' sustained success. The Eagles certainly fit that description.
Nick Sirianni deserves credit for the job he is doing
The Brotherly Shove receives most of the attention, but reducing Philadelphia's success to a single play oversimplifies the conversation. Nick Sirianni has built an aggressive mindset that embraces calculated risk. Analytics have increasingly influenced decision-making across the NFL, and Sirianni has generally shown a willingness to trust both the numbers and his roster.
The Eagles frequently put their offense in a position to extend drives rather than automatically settling for punts or field goals. That approach requires confidence. It also requires execution. Philadelphia has consistently delivered both. The rest of the NFL is catching up.
The league's overall fourth-down philosophy has changed dramatically. According to PFF's research, NFL teams averaged a record 30.75 fourth-down attempts during the 2025 season. That's nearly double the league average from a decade earlier. What once seemed reckless now feels routine.
Teams increasingly understand that extending drives often offers a better chance of winning than surrendering possession. Coaches who once would have punted without hesitation now regularly leave their offenses on the field. The Eagles were among the organizations that helped normalize that thinking. Whether fans love it or hate it, the Brotherly Shove became the defining image of Philadelphia's fourth-down dominance. The play generated headlines, league meetings, and countless debates on television and social media. Yet the underlying numbers suggest the Eagles' success goes beyond any single formation or personnel package. Good teams convert critical situations. Great teams build entire identities around doing so.
Philadelphia's 63-percent conversion rate over the past five seasons places the organization among the NFL's elite in that regard. The Chiefs and Rams may have finished slightly ahead, but the Eagles remain firmly in the conversation whenever discussions turn to fourth-down efficiency. That's not just a statistical achievement.
It's evidence of an organizational philosophy that has helped produce consistent success, deep playoff runs, and a Super Bowl championship. As long as Sirianni remains willing to trust his players in those critical moments, there's little reason to believe the Eagles will stop being one of football's most dangerous fourth-down teams anytime soon.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: PFF highlights Eagles’ aggressive fourth-down approach