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HOUSTON — The Houston Texans put up one of many harder fights the Philadelphia Eagles have seen this season, however Philly managed to prevail, 29-17, and protect its undefeated begin to the season. The Eagles are 8-0 for the primary time in franchise historical past, whereas the Texans moved to 1-6-1 on the season throughout “Monday Night time Soccer” at NRG Stadium.
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback Jalen Hurts’ return house proved to be an historic night time, as he helped information the Eagles’ to their first-ever 8-0 begin. It wasn’t all the time fairly however he rose to the second, tossing a pair of landing passes — together with a go-ahead 17-yard strike to broad receiver A.J. Brown within the third quarter — to maintain the undefeated prepare rolling.
An MVP candidate close to the midway level of the season, Hurts has thrown at the very least two landing passes in three straight video games for the primary time in his profession. He’s as much as 18 touchdowns (12 passing, six dashing) with two interceptions by means of eight video games.
Describe the sport in two phrases: Briefly uncomfortable. With the one-win Texans lacking each of their beginning receivers, this appeared like a complete mismatch. However Thursday highway video games are tough and the Eagles had been uncharacteristically sloppy at instances, as illustrated by their first misplaced fumble of the season on a play the place Hurts did not appear prepared for the ball when it was snapped. The sport was tied on the half — the primary time Philly did not lead after two quarters — however the Eagles regularly gained command because the second half wore on.
Troubling pattern: The Eagles’ first sport with out rookie defensive sort out Jordan Davis, who was simply positioned on injured reserve with a excessive ankle sprain, proved problematic for the push protection. Houston operating again Dameon Pierce went off for 139 yards on 27 carries. Philly’s tackling was typically poor and the operating lanes too broad. Davis has been a difference-maker. Getting into the sport, the Eagles allowed 3.9 yards per rush with him on the sector (70 rushes) versus 6 yards per rush with him off the sector (112 rushes).
Pivotal play: C.J. Gardner-Johnson got here up together with his league-leading fifth interception of the season halfway by means of the third quarter, organising Hurts’ landing cross to Brown. The Eagles’ first possession of the second half shortly stalled when operating again Miles Sanders was stuffed on third-and-short, swinging momentum to Houston’s favor. However Gardner-Johnson swung it proper again with a diving decide over the center on third down. — Tim McManus
Underrated statistic to know: Gardner-Johnson now has an interception in 4 straight video games, tied for the longest streak by an Eagles participant because the merger (Invoice Bradley in 1972).
Subsequent sport: vs. Washington Commanders (8:15 p.m. ET, Nov. 14)
Houston Texans
The Texans had been 14-points underdogs in opposition to the Eagles but managed to place up a decent battle. They entered halftime tied 17-17, however Houston’s protection struggled in opposition to the cross and run as Hurts threw two touchdowns and the Eagles’ offense rushed for 2 touchdowns.
The Texans’ offense was led by the rookie Pierce, who completed with 139 rush yards. That took strain off of quarterback Davis Mills, who was with out his two main receivers in Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins. Pierce’s sturdy efficiency allowed Mills to be environment friendly as he threw two touchdowns. However he did have a few second-half interceptions that crushed the Texans’ probabilities of profitable.
Promising pattern: Pierce struggled in opposition to the Tennessee Titans final week as he completed with 35 yards on 15 carries, his second-lowest output when it comes to yardage for the season. However Pierce bounced again in an enormous means by ending with 139 yards, a season-high. With out Pierce the sport would have been over by halftime.
Purchase on a breakout efficiency: Houston’s cross rush is enhancing. It produced 4 sacks in opposition to the Eagles, who’ve among the best offensive strains within the league. The Texans additionally had 10 pressures on 31 dropbacks, in line with Subsequent Gen Stats. If they will produce strain in opposition to this offensive line after they play the New York Giants in Week 10, they need to be capable to carry that momentum because the Giants have allowed quarterbacks to be sacked 25 instances, which ranks throughout the top-10. — DJ Bien-Aime
Underrated statistic to know: Mills was operating 16.04 mph when he threw a 13-yard second-quarter landing cross to Chris Moore — simply the third TD this season thrown whereas operating that quick.
Subsequent sport: at Giants (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 13)
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