a recent match between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Buffalo Bills grabbed attention due to a controversial play involving Eagles’ guard Cam Jurgens and Bills’ defensive tackle Jordan Phillips.
Jason Kelce wants Bills' Jordan Phillips fined for trying to hurt Cam Jurgens. https://t.co/4sYlU9I2uZ
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 29, 2023
The dispute swirled around what many described as a deliberate cheap shot from Phillips on Jurgens, during an Eagles’ fourth-and-1 tush push quarterback sneak attack.
defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills, Jordan Phillips, made a counter-move that caught everyone off-guard, Phillips pushed headfirst into the Eagles’ offensive line even before the ball was snapped.
He directed his power at Eagles guard, Cam Jurgens, knocking him to the ground, Phillips’ early blast had been flagged for jumping offside, yet, Eagles center Jason Kelce felt punishment should have been severe.
Eagles center, Jason Kelce, broke the silence regarding the incident during a post-game interview on WIP Radio.
Kelce claimed that Phillips’ blitz was not just an accidental overstep or defensive maneuver. Rather, he posed that it was a deliberate cheap shot
“Teams are really trying to stop that play,” Kelce said. “I thought it was bullshit at the time. I really did. I said so to the official on the field. I said, ‘I’ve been running that play a lot of years. I’ve seen people jump offsides. He made zero effort to stop after he jumped offsides.’ He purposely tried to hurt Cam Jurgens. I thought it should have been a personal foul and I think he should be fined for that play.”
Kelce did not stop his criticism at Phillips. He faulted the game officials, berating them for failing to punish Phillips adequately.
“I thought that play in particular was absolutely a disgrace that the NFL should not allow,” Kelce said. “I really do. I don’t know Jordan Phillips, he might be the best guy in the world, but that, in my opinion, the NFL needs to do something about. Because that shouldn’t be allowed in this game. I thought the officials did not do a good job of officiating that play. I really did. That was so clearly not an offsides. That was a personal foul. And it should have been stipulated right from that moment.”
In his view, the officials’ lenience had allowed players like Phillips to get away scot-free after a dangerous and harmful play.
