Free safety Nate Allen blitzed Texans quarterback Matt Schaub's blindside. Allen caught Schaub from his blindside and not only sacked the quarterback, but also knocked the ball loose in the process.

The ball bounced around on the ground. Defensive end Trent Cole went to pick up the ball, but couldn't secure it. Fellow defensive end Darryl Tapp came in and simply fell on the ball. Any chance for a Texans comeback was over.

It's not the first time Tapp has closed out a game this season. Tapp also recovered Eli Manning's fumble when the Giants quarterback awkwardly dove forward at the end of a scramble late in the game. The Eagles took that fumble, ran down the clock and padded their lead to put that game in the bag.

Tapp, who was acquired from the Seahawks in a trade this past offseason, leads the team with three fumble recoveries this year.

"You've got to find your niche," Tapp said. "I was able to make a play on it. I don't even know who made the sack."

Tapp rotated in at left defensive end in the win over the Texans with Brandon Graham. Since being inactive for the first two games of the season, those were the first games he missed in his four-plus NFL seasons, Tapp has 20 tackles (including four for loss), 2.0 sacks and six QB hurries. After playoff appearances in his first two NFL seasons, Tapp's Seahawks went a combined 9-23 over the past two seasons. Needless to say, Tapp is happy to be with the 8-4 Eagles and in first place of the NFC East.

"It's a good feeling. I haven't been 8-4 in a while," Tapp said. "I'm going to enjoy it and then get back to work."

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 3:10 p.m., December 6