Eagles-Packers Officiating Sparks Controversy With Missed False Start Calls on ‘MNF’

Featured Snippet: 

During Monday Night Football, multiple false starts were overlooked in the Eagles-Packers game. Both teams’ linemen jumped early on key plays, raising questions about officiating consistency and rules enforcement in short-yardage situations.

Jalen Hurts leads the Eagles’ first “tush push” of the game against the Green Bay Packers.

Eagles-Packers Officiating Controversy: Missed False Starts on MNF

Monday Night Football between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers quickly became a topic of discussion—not for outstanding plays, but for questionable officiating. Several clear false starts were missed by the officials, creating frustration and confusion for players, coaches, and fans a like.

The First “Tush Push” and the Missed Call

The game’s opening tush push by the Eagles should have been flagged. The play was a textbook example of a false start, but officials chose to ignore it. The "tush push" is one of the short-yardage strategies where offensive linemen can sometimes gain a head start. However, even in its most blatant form, it went unpenalized.

Green Bay’s Fourth-and-One Situation

Early in the first quarter, the Packers faced a crucial fourth-and-one. Quarterback Jordan Love dove forward to pick up the first down without relying on a push from his offensive line. The issue? Both the left tackle and left guard jumped early—classic false starts. Yet again, officials failed to call the penalty, leaving fans and commentators questioning the consistency of enforcement.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur likely experienced mixed emotions, celebrating the gain while seeing a potential penalty go uncalled.

Eagles Repeat Multiple False Starts

Philadelphia wasn’t exempt from the officiating oversight. On their first possession, quarterback Jalen Hurts lined up under center for the Eagles’ first tush push of the game. Both guards moved forward before the snap, placing their heads over the line of scrimmage early. Yet, no flags were thrown.

It wasn’t until later in the drive that a false start was officially called—on Jordan Mailata, who mistakenly thought a Packers player moved. This late call highlighted the inconsistency in officiating, as Mailata’s jump was minor compared to the earlier, more obvious infractions.

What This Means for Future Games

The events in the Eagles-Packers game suggest that officials are being extremely selective in calling false starts, particularly on short-yardage plays. Players and coaches may now have a clearer understanding of what can and cannot be penalized, but the inconsistent enforcement raises concerns about fairness and clarity in NFL officiating.

Fans and analysts alike are left questioning: Are referees being too lenient, or is there a new standard for short-yardage plays like the tush push?