HOUSTON -- In 2013, the Eagles were known for many things. The breakneck pace of the offense, the dominance of the run game, the efficiency of Nick Foles and the implementation of sports science all made headlines. The impressive health of the team, with no players going on the Injured Reserve once the season began and all five offensive linemen starting all 16 games together, was a calling card.
That, of course, has not been the case in 2014, as the offensive line has been in flux all season because of injury and the defense has seen shuffling at several positions. And yet, the Eagles are 6-2 halfway through the season, and their impressive resolve was on display for all to see Sunday as the losses of quarterback Nick Foles, offensive lineman Todd Herremans and inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans were all overcome on the way to a 31-21 victory.
"The M.O. of this team has been one guy goes down and the next guy goes in and we just keep chugging along," said center Jason Kelce, who returned from a sports hernia injury to start for the first time since Week 3. "I think that's on offense and defense and you saw that today when Todd went down and Nick Foles went down and then obviously DeMeco on the defense. We have great players and we have a great culture where everybody understands their role and understands if they need to go out there, the rest of the team is relying on them."
After Foles left with a shoulder injury at the very end of the first quarter, Sanchez threw for over 200 yards and two touchdowns while shepherding the Eagles' offense to 31 points. After leaving with an ankle injury (and playing through a biceps injury), Herremans was replaced at right guard by Andrew Gardner – and the Eagles proceeded to score on a four-play, 70-yard drive that consisted of all runs. And Casey Matthews and Emmanuel Acho combined to fill the void left by Ryans as the Eagles' defense helped close the door on the Texans as the home team tried to claw back from a 10-point deficit at the end of the game.
The Eagles are in Houston to take on the Texans at NRG Stadium. Philadelphia is looking to bounce back after last week's loss in Arizona ...
QB Mark Sanchez celebrating his second touchdown pass
WR and TE brotherly love!
TheIncrediblePolk scores!
WR Jeremy Maclin making the completion on Sanchez's first pass of the game
WR Jeremy Maclin catching the deep touchdown pass
RB Darren Sproles and QB Mark Sanchez with some brotherly love
Eagles fans in Houston!
QB Mark Sanchez warming up
QB Nick Foles handing the ball of to RB LeSean McCoy during warmups
Coming out to support in Houston!
Eagles players warming up before today's game
DE Vinny Curry warming up for today
Go Eagles!
T Jason Peters talking to QB Nick Foles during warmups
K Cody Parkey getting his leg loose
The Eagles players are ready for today
The rookie wide receivers before the game
TE Trey Burton taking some reps in warmups
Head coach Chip Kelly
Eagles fans welcoming the team in Houston
LB DeMeco Ryans getting the team pumped
Breaking it down before the game
WR Jeremy Maclin getting his hands ready for the game
C Jason Kelce, LB DeMeco Ryans, and WR Jeremy Maclin before the game
WR Josh Huff was the kick returner for today's game
CB Bradley Fletcher making the first quarter tackle
LB Connor Barwin enjoying his return to Houston
LB DeMeco Ryans making the tackle
LB Trent Cole staring into the backfield
LB Trent Cole diving for the ball
RB LeSean McCoy running the ball during the first quarter
WR Jordan Matthews celebrating his touchdown
WR Jeremy Maclin diving into the end zone!
QB Nick Foles making a roll out pass
RB LeSean McCoy turing up field
WR Jeremy Maclin making the deep reception
WR Josh Huff celebrating with WR Jeremy Maclin after the Maclin touchdown
DT Beau Allen and DE Brandon Bair in on the sack
The Eagles defense swarming the ball
TE Zach Ertz walking out for today's game
Texans RB Arian Foster and Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin shaking hands before the game
The captains for today's game
Head coach Chip Kelly offering some advice during the game
QB Nick Foles slinging the ball
The Eagles defensive line
DT Beau Allen and DE Brandon Bair celebrating the 1st half sack
DT Bennie Logan with the tackle
LB Mychal Kendricks with the hit and forced fumble
RB LeSean McCoy moving down field
C Jason Kelce leading the way
The Eagles defense swarming Fitzpatrick
LB Mychal Kendricks getting in the backfield
QB Mark Sanchez completing a DEEP pass after entering the game in the 2nd quarter
WR Jeremy Maclin having another huge first half performance
RB LeSean McCoy
K Cody Parkey with a made FG to give the Eagles the lead at the end of the 1st half
LB DeMeco Ryans with the tackle
LB DeMeco Ryans celebrating his big hit
CB Brandon Boykin with the tackle
WR Josh Huff running down field
QB Mark Sanchez with the pass
RB Darren Sproles breaking tackles
DE Cedric Thornton clogging up the line
WR Jordan Matthews with his eyes up field as he catches and runs
RB LeSean McCoy on the run
TE Brent Celek making the reception
A loyal Eagles fan in Houston
K Cody Parkey making his 1st FG attempt
C Jason Kelce making his return today
QB Mark Sanchez rolling out and slinging the ball
WR Jordan Matthews receives the ball on the crossing route
T Lane Johnson making the block
RB LeSean McCoy cutting up field
TE Zach Ertz waiting for the ball
RB Darren Sproles cutting in and out
Some brotherly love from the specialists
LB Connor Barwin with the sack
LB Connor Barwin celebrating his sack
DE Vinny Curry jumps on LB Connor Barwin's shoulders
RB Darren Sproles
P Donnie Jones with the boot
LB Brandon Graham staring into the backfield
More Eagles fans in Houston
RB LeSean McCoy
RB Chris Polk breaks through for a touchdown!
S Earl Wolff in press coverage
DE Vinny Curry very excited for LB Connor Barwin
LB Connor Barwin diving at Fitzpatrick
QB Mark Sanchez back in the pocket
RB Darren Sproles breaking tackles and gaining yards
RB Darren Sproles cutting across the field
RB Darren Sproles in open field
RB LeSean McCoy breaking through the line
QB Mark Sanchez staying in the pocket as JJ Watt dives
LB Brandon Graham reaching out for the the quarterback
RB Chris Polk having himself a game!
RB Chris Polk fighting for extra yards
Thanks for coming out and supporting, Eagles fans!
Barwinning
WR Jeremy Maclin with 2nd touchdown of the game!
LB DeMeco Ryans making plays on defense
WR Jeremy Maclin on the screen pass
QB Mark Sanchez scrambling out of the pocket
QB Mark Sanchez ready to throw on the move
LB Trent Cole fighting through blocks
RB LeSean McCoy dodging through the line
LB Mychal Kendricks grabbing on to the QB
LB Trent Cole stuffing the player at the line
RB LeSean McCoy looking for the hole in the line
QB Mark Sanchez hanging in the pocket to make the play
WR Jeremy Maclin on the catch and run
RB LeSean McCoy
TheIncrediblePolk making some powerful, downhill runs
RB LeSean McCoy looking for the best path
"The injury bug hits everybody at some point," said safety Malcolm Jenkins. "What you always get to see from a team that has injuries is, one, how much faith do we have in the guys who are backups and how prepared is the team, how much depth do we have and how is their resolve? I think we've shown some really good resolve in fighting through adversity. Nobody's complaining about it, nobody's making excuses."
"We have guys that work their tail off," said right tackle Lane Johnson. "Backups, they play the game just like starters. People like Gardner, (Matt) Tobin, they're practicing well and their name's called and they can play pretty decent."
As head coach Chip Kelly has mentioned throughout his tenure with the Eagles, the team's training sessions do help prepare the team for the possibility, and the inevitability, of injuries.
"It says that we're resilient," cornerback Cary Williams said. "I think it's come down to the guys that we have in the locker room, guys who understand that injuries are things that happen and it's our job to play through it. You never know when your name's going to be called. In practice, there are a lot of second-team guys who get reps. It's been helping us out."
"I mean, it shows we have character" said left tackle Jason Peters. "Like I said before, one goes down, the other one steps up. We're just going to keep going and playing with the guys we have on the field."
