Eagles Trail Texans 24-20 After 14 Unanswered By Houston
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The Texans scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to take a 24-20 lead over the Eagles. Arian Foster scored both touchdowns, one on a 13-yard pass from Matt Schaub and the other on a 3-yard run. Foster has 22 carries for 83 yards and a score and 2 receptions for 26 yards and the touchdowns.
The Eagles jumped out to a 7-0 lead after a 1-yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick to LeSean McCoy capped an 11-play, 88-yard drive that took up 7:04 to open the game.
It looked like the Eagles might get on the board even quicker, as Jorrick Calvin broke what would have been a 101-yard kick return for a touchdown, but it was called back due to a hold.
Instead, the Eagles started at their own 12-yardline and Vick hit DeSean Jackson on a skinny post for 30 yards to open the game. Vick went 7-of-8 on the drive for 89 yards and the touchdown, also hitting Brent Celek for 20 yards, McCoy twice for 17, Jeremy Maclin twice for 18 yards and Jason Avant once for a four-yard gain.
The Texans answered with a 48-yard field goal from Neil Rackers after a stop on 3rd and 14 at the Eagles’ 30 yardline, cutting it to 7-3.
Philadelphia went right back to work, moving the ball to the Texans 7-yardline and making it look easy with a pair of key third down conversions, one from Vick to Jackson for 21 yards and one on a scramble by Vick. The Birds punched it in on the ground with a 4-yard run by McCoy, grabbing a 14-3 lead.
The Texans again failed to move the ball and Philadelphia answered with a 7-play, 51-yard drive culminating in a 36-yard field goal by David Akers.
This time Houston had a response, as Matt Schaub hit Andre Johnson, who had just returned from the locker room with an injury, for a 42-yard bomb down the near sideline. The big play set the Texans up for an 8-yard strike from Schaub to Jacoby Jones. The 8-play, 80-yard drive took 3:57 off the clock and brought the Texans within a score at 17-10.
Philadelphia picked up one first down on their following drive before a 37-yard Sav Rocca punt sent the Texans back to their own 15-yardline. Houston appeared to be moving the ball, but just after the two minute warning Trevor Laws read a screen pass from Schaub and intercepted it behind the line of scrimmage. Laws fumbled at the end of a 13-yard return, which Trevard Lindley recovered.
The Eagles nearly grabbed a late touchdown after the turnover, but Jason Avant and Brent Celek dropped Vick passes in the end zone. The Eagles settled for a 22-yard field goal and a 20-10 lead.
The Texans opened the third quarter with an 11-play, 79-yard drive that took 6:11 off the clock and was capped by a 13-yard pass from Schaub to Foster for a touchdown. Combining runs and receptions, Foster had seven touches on the drive.
On the ensuing drive, Michael Vick threw his second interception as an Eagle on a bomb down the right sideline that was picked off by Jason Allen at the Texans’ 14 yardline. Houston went right back to work, with Foster getting the ball on the second, third and fourth plays of the drive and running for 15 yards.
Schaub converted a pair of key third downs, hitting David Anderson for 17 yards on 3rd and 6 at the Houston 29-yardline and finding Andre Johnson for 31 yards on 3rd and 17 from the Texans’ 39. Foster eventually punched it in from 3 yards out to put the Texans on top 24-20.
Matt Schaub has completed 14-23 passes for 237 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. Foster has 22 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown and 2 receptions for 26 yards and a score. Andre Johnson has 3 catches for 92 yards.
Philadelphia’s Michael Vick is 17-26 for 196 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Vick has run 7 times for 47 yards. LeSean McCoy has 6 catches for 37 yard and a touchdown and 6 rushes for 39 yards and a score.
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