Overview

• With Denver visiting Philadelphia in Week 5, Payton said he “stood up in favor” of keeping the tactic in offseason meetings and framed it as a well-executed quarterback sneak.
• Owners declined to ban the play in May, with the proposal falling two votes short of the 24 required for passage in a 22-10 result.
• The NFL reminded officials after Week 2 to ensure legal pre-snap alignment, following broadcast-flagged instances of apparent false starts and an officiating training video that agreed with at least one miss.
• Philadelphia continues to succeed with the formation, converting a reported 28 of 34 attempts last season and unveiling variations such as a sweep for a touchdown in Week 4.
• League sources expect the question to resurface after the season, with one executive telling ESPN that officiating difficulty could increase the chance of a 2026 ban.