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HOUSTON --Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is in a zone. In a huge, catch-everything-against-anybody zone. He finished the first half of the regular season in impressive fashion on Sunday with six catches, 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the 31-21 win over Houston.
Maclin beat the Texans short, deep and in the red zone. He was targeted seven times as the Texans chased him to no avail.
"I'm just going out there and making the most of my opportunities," said Maclin, who has 45 receptions, 790 yards and eight scores in eight games. "They're doing a good job dialing it up for me."
Maclin took advantage of injuries that knocked Houston cornerbacks Kareem Jackson and Johnathan Joseph out of the game. He opened the scoring with a 59-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Nick Foles as those two starting cornerbacks left the game, and then Maclin came back on the first snap from scrimmage when backup quarterback Mark Sanchez entered the game and hauled in a 52-yard pass to set up a touchdown.
Finally, Maclin made a diving catch as he came back to catch a Sanchez pass to score on an 8-yard play and give the Eagles a 31-21 advantage with 3:50 to go in the game. The play capped a beauty of a 15-play, 80-yard drive for the Eagles which was the longest in terms of duration (8:01) on the season.
The Eagles felt going into the game that they could exploit Houston's defense. Maclin said the Texans' safeties "got a little nosy" in their attempts to stop the running game.
And it cost them down the field.
"We thought that was one area that we could get them," said Maclin. "We hit them a couple of times."
Maclin has had a brilliant season. He's surpassed the 150-yard receiving mark three times in the first half of the season and shows no signs of slowing down, no matter who plays quarterback.
"I feel good and I wanted to come back (after missing the 2013 season with an injury) and try to be better than I was," said Maclin. "This year, I've had my number called quite a bit. All I can do is be reliable for my team."
Sanchez joked that Maclin "picked a good time to sign a one-year contract," and no doubt Maclin is making big plays every week. Defenses simply have had no success covering him any number of ways.
He has three touchdowns of 50-plus yards this season. Maclin now has back-to-back games with 150-plus receiving yards and two touchdowns (he had 12 catches, 187 yards and two scores in Arizona), becoming the first player in the NFL since 2009 (Miles Austin, Dallas) to accomplish that feat.
"Those are what receivers live for," he said. "Even growing up as a kid, the first thing you want to do is go deep. You have to do it within the offense and you have to do it at the right time. I think we hit them at the right time."
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
