HOUSTON--On the Eagles' second offensive possession on Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston, quarterback Nick Foles and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin connected on a 59-yard touchdown pass to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead.
After exchanging punts with Houston, the Eagles took possession at their 12-yard line with 11 minutes, 9 seconds to go in the first quarter and hoped to find some rhythm after a three-and-out first series that featured a ferocious Texans pass rush.
Foles converted a third down with an 11-yard completion to Maclin and the Eagles gained a second first down on an illegal contact penalty, but two snaps later the Eagles found themselves in a third-and-3 situation. Foles threw to Darren Sproles for 5 yards and a first down at the 41-yard line.
Then the Eagles went strategic, noticing that Houston starting cornerbacks Kareem Jackson (knee) and James Joseph (head injury) were out of the game. So the Eagles used a play-action fake to free Maclin down the field. Foles faked a handoff to Sproles and then stepped up in the pocket and delivered a strike to Maclin, working against rookie cornerback Andre Hall. There was no safety help and the pass was right on target for Maclin, who made the catch and reached the end zone to complete the 59-yard touchdown play. The Eagles led 7-0 with 8:30 to go in the first quarter.
It was Maclin's third touchdown catch of 50-plus yards this season. He had a 68-yard touchdown catch to help beat Jacksonville and a 54-yard grab in the loss at Arizona.
