It didn't matter who was running Chip Kelly's offense Sunday afternoon. Despite losing quarterback Nick Foles to a shoulder injury at the end of the first quarter, the Eagles' offense scored four touchdowns, racked up 484 yards of offense, and knocked off the Texans, 31-21, Sunday.
Quarterback Mark Sanchez threw for 202 yards and compiled a 89.6 quarterback rating in relief of Foles, while running back LeSean McCoy ran for 117 yards on 23 carries, an average of 5.1 yards per carry.
The scoring began with a bang Sunday afternoon when Foles found Jeremy Maclin on a deep pass in the middle of the field, a 59-yard touchdown pass that put the Eagles up 7-0. It was Maclin's seventh touchdown catch of the season and the first of two on the afternoon for the wide receiver who finished with six catches for 158 yards and the two scores.
Unfortunately the lead didn't stick around for long. After the Eagles' defense forced a Texans punt, Foles was intercepted by A.J. Bouye, who returned the pick 51 yards to tie the game at 7-7.
And three minutes later, the game took an unexpected turn when Foles suffered a left shoulder injury. He was driven into the NRG Stadium grass, and walked off under his own power but was ruled out for the game at halftime.
Enter Mark Sanchez.
Sanchez wasted no time finding a rhythm early in the second quarter, taking his first drive of the regular season 60 yards in six plays.
Sanchez found Maclin for a 52-yard bomb, and then a handful of plays later lofted an 11-yard touchdown pass to rookie Jordan Matthews to put the Eagles up, 14-7. It was Matthews' third touchdown of the year.
But, again, the Texans refused to succumb to the Eagles' offensive assault. After trading punts and a quiet middle of the second quarter, Houston quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick found running back Arian Foster for a 56-yard touchdown pass to even the game at 14 with just under four minutes to play in the half.
So the Eagles used all 3:58 remaining and pieced together a 13-play, 53-yard drive ending in a 45-yard field goal by Cody Parkey as the half came to an end, taking a 17-14 lead into the break.
The third quarter saw the Eagles dominate the flow of play, with the defense limiting the Texans' chances and the offense rediscovering the run game in a big way. With just over four minutes to play the Eagles engineered a four-play, 70-yard drive, with all four plays being runs.
Running back Chris Polk punctuated the dominating drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. The touchdown gave the Eagles a 24-14 lead with just under three minutes to play in the third quarter.
Yet for the third time on the afternoon, the Texans refused to let the game go away.
After a Sanchez interception, Fitzpatrick found wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in the right corner of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown pass to make it a one-score game. The Eagles reclaimed the ball with 11:50 to play and a 24-21 lead.
They responded with a 15-play, 80-yard drive that ate up 8:01 of clock and ended in an eight-yard touchdown pass to Maclin. It was the longest drive of the Eagles' season.
The Eagles took a 31-21 lead with less than four minutes to play, and forced a turnover on downs on the ensuing Texans drive to ice the win.
The Eagles, now 6-2 on the year and in first place in the NFC East, return home next week to host the Carolina Panthers (3-5-1) on Monday Night Football.
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
