The Houston Texans positioned up one of the harder fights the Philadelphia Eagles have seen this season, but Philly managed to prevail, 29-17, and hold its undefeated start to the season. The Eagles are eight-zero for the first time in franchise history, at the same time as the Texans moved to 1-6-1 on the season for the duration of “Thursday night football” at NRG Stadium.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts’ return domestic proved to be an historic night, as he helped manual the Eagles’ to their first 8-zero begin. It wasn’t constantly quite, however he rose to the moment, tossing a pair of landing passes — inclusive of a cross-ahead 17-backyard strike to extensive receiver A.J. Brown in the third sector — to keep the undefeated teach rolling.
An MVP candidate near the midway point of the season, Hurts has thrown at least landing passes in three directly games for the primary time in his career. He’s up to 18 touchdowns (12 passing, six speeding) with two interceptions via eight video games.
Describe the game in two phrases: briefly uncomfortable. With the one-win Texans missing both of their starting receivers, this regarded like a complete mismatch. However Thursday road games are tricky, and the Eagles had been uncharacteristically sloppy at times, as illustrated by way of their first lost fumble of the season on a play wherein Hurts didn’t seem prepared for the ball when it become snapped. The game become tied at the 1/2 — the first time Philly failed to lead after two quarters — however the Eagles steadily won command as the second one 1/2 wore on.
Troubling trend: The Eagles’ first sport without rookie protective tackle Jordan Davis, who turned into just located on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain, proved intricate for the push defense. Houston walking returned Dameon Pierce went off for 139 yards on 27 consists of. Philly’s tackling was regularly bad and the running lanes too extensive. Davis has been a difference-maker. Entering the game, the Eagles allowed three.9 yards per rush with him on the field (70 rushes) versus 6 yards consistent with rush with him off the sphere (112 rushes).
Pivotal play: C.J. Gardner-Johnson got here up together with his league-main 5th interception of the season midway through the third zone, putting in place Hurts’ touchdown pass to Brown. The Eagles’ first ownership of the second half speedy stalled while jogging again Miles Sanders become stuffed on 1/3-and-brief, swinging momentum to Houston’s want. But Gardner-Johnson swung it right returned with a diving pick over the middle on 0.33 down. — Tim McManus
Underrated statistic to recognise: Gardner-Johnson now has an interception in 4 directly video games, tied for the longest streak by using an Eagles player since the merger (invoice Bradley in 1972).
The Texans were 14-points underdogs towards the Eagles yet managed to position up a first rate fight. They entered halftime tied 14-14, however Houston’s protection struggled against the skip and run as Hurts threw two touchdowns, and the Eagles’ offense rushed for 2 touchdowns.
The Texans’ offense became led by way of the rookie Pierce, who completed with 139 rush yards. That took stress off of quarterback Davis turbines, who changed into with out his two leading receivers in Brandin chefs and Nico Collins. Pierce’s robust overall performance allowed generators to be efficient as he threw two touchdowns. But he did have more than one 2nd-half interceptions that crushed the Texans’ chances of prevailing.
Promising fashion: Pierce struggled against the Tennessee Titans ultimate week as he completed with 35 yards on 15 incorporates, his 2d-lowest output in terms of yardage for the season. However Pierce bounced lower back in a big way with the aid of finishing with 139 yards, a season-excessive. With out Pierce the game could have been over by way of halftime.
Purchase on a breakout performance: Houston’s skip rush is improving. It produced four sacks against the Eagles, who’ve one of the satisfactory offensive traces inside the league. The Texans also had 10 pressures on 31 dropbacks, according to subsequent Gen Stats. If they can produce strain towards this offensive line after they play the new york Giants in Week 10, they should be capable of convey that momentum as the Giants have allowed quarterbacks to be sacked 25 instances, which ranks inside the top-10. — DJ Bien-Aime
Underrated statistic to recognize: turbines changed into jogging sixteen.04 mph when he threw a thirteen-yard 2nd-region landing bypass to Chris Moore — simply the 0.33 TD this season thrown at the same time as walking that speedy.
