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
HOUSTON -- Mychal Kendricks has watched from the sidelines this season as DeMeco Ryans and his teammates looked to fill the void left by an injured Kendricks. Now, it appears, the tables have turned as Kendricks and the group of remaining inside linebackers move on without an injured Ryans.
"It means we have to step up and rise to the occasion, that's what that means," Kendricks said after the game. "We need to step up and really lead this team now, do exactly what he would want us to."
Replacing Ryans, the emotional leader of the defense, will be no easy task.
"It's going to be real difficult just because of the man he is, the character he has, the leadership he has, the feeling everybody has for him – you saw everybody out there. Nobody works harder than DeMeco," said defensive coordinator Bill Davis. "He's a calm leader. He's everybody's friend. He's a mentor to a lot of the younger guys, but we have a group of vets that will step in. We'll move on like everybody has to in the NFL. We're not the only ones going through this."
The thinnest of silver linings is that, because of Kendricks' recent injury, the likes of Casey Matthews, Emmanuel Acho and Marcus Smith II have logged time in the middle of the defense.
"They're not rusty," Kendricks said. "They're ready and that's why those guys stay ready and they prepare during the week just as well as anybody else who's playing during the game. I'm fully confident in the guys that we have."
"We're not having brand new people step in and play without any experience," added Davis. "Everybody that's going to take over for DeMeco has had a lot of reps."
All eyes, though, will be on Kendricks moving forward as the former second-round pick prepares to take over as the main man in the middle.
"I think he's ready," Davis said. "When Mychal's the only linebacker on the field right now, he is the leader and sets the defense. When Acho or Casey is in there, their position makes the call, so Mychal will hold onto the exact role he's always had."
"Today, we had one of our soldiers go down and we're going to ride for him," said Kendricks. "With that being said, people are going to step up to the plate."
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