Football News

Texans – Eagles (17-29): without shaking but without shining

Houston Texans (1-6-1) – Philadelphia Eagles (8-0): 17-29

It’s historic, for the first time in their history, the Eagles start a season with eight wins. What will be less remembered is this meeting in Houston. Facing one-dimensional Texans, Philadelphia took a half to really get the hang of their opponent, before putting the lid on defense and finishing the job offensively. Clean but uneventful.

Houston held until the break, reached on a parity score (14-14). Then, CJ Gardner-Johnson rocked the game with his fifth interception of the season, which also puts him at the top of this statistical category. By returning the ball to his attack 17 yards from the end zone, Gardner-Johnson allowed Jalen Hurts (21/27, 243 yards, 2 TDs) to find AJ Brown (4 rec, 59 yards, 1 TD) two actions later for the 21-14 touchdown.

Houston responded with a field goal (17-21), but Philadelphia then closed the deal with an offensive of almost five minutes, ended for a touchdown from Dallas Goedert (8 rec, 100 yards, 1 TD), essential this Thursday , embellished with a two-point conversion (17-29). The Texans did have two more possessions, but only for one more punt and one more interception.

When Dameon Pierce runs, it’s fine…

If the Texans ended up losing the rhythm, it was mainly because they had to run behind the score. Because as long as Philadelphia did not come off, Houston could count on Dameon Pierce (27 races, 139 yards). From the first series, the rookie runner set the tone. He carried the first ball for 11 yards, then the next three again. And the Texans scored from their first offensive of the evening (7-0).

SEE ALSO:  The NFL point of July 6: Chase Roullier hangs up

Philadelphia immediately responded, also favoring the ground, with Miles Sanders (17 races, 93 yards, 1 TD, photo) at the conclusion (7-7). We then think that the Eagles will fly away. But a fumble from Jalen Hurts delays the deadline. No big deal, Kenneth Gainwell in turn scores in the heart of the second quarter (7-14). Except that Pierce doesn’t give up. He takes advantage of the spaces left in particular by the absence of Jordan Davis and poses a race of 36 yards which sends his team into opposing terrain. Davis Mills (13/22, 154 yards, 2 TDs, 2 int) seized the opportunity and found Chris Moore for the equalizer (14-14). Jake Elliott misses the target 54 yards before the break and the score is tied.

With a discreet aerial game, the Eagles do nothing with their first two possessions of the third quarter, and it is therefore necessary to wait for Johnson’s interception for the attack to find a good position and score (14-21). Deprived of Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins, Mills does what he can, but so he loses track. A field goal is not enough, especially when Goedert gives wide to the leaders of the NFC (17-29).

The Texans have not been corrected, but they bow logically. Unlike them, the Eagles have the answer to everything. When their aerial game is rather contained, like this Thursday, then the runners and the defense take over. And as Nick Sirianni’s team continues to limit errors, it passes.

Back to top button

Adblock Detected

Please disable your ad blocker to be able to see the content of the page. For an independent site with free content, it is literally a matter of life and death to have ads. Thank you for your understanding!