Official Texans vs. Eagles Game Thread, 11/2/2014
 

The 4-4 Texans host the 5-2 Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday in an early game at NRG stadium. The Texans are coming off a 30-16 road win over the Tennessee Titans. The Eagles are coming off a 24-20 road loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The Eagles have beaten the Colts and Giants this year - something the Texans were unable to do. While the Eagles have a very productive offense, they have a propensity for turnovers. They are a not-so-good -7 in giveaway/takeaways. The Texans are +4 (not bad). One thing to keep an eye on is the Eagles special teams which are ranked #1 in the Football Outsiders system. The Texans have never beaten the Eagles....0-3 all time.

TV = FOX (channel 26), noon, Sunday, Nov. 2

Announcers = Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa (same group as last week)

The line = The Eagles by 1 to 2.5

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TNF = New Orleans @ Carolina

SNF = Baltimore @ Pittsburgh

MNF = Indianapolis @ NY Giants

Cardinals were able to put a lot of pressure on Foles last week which will be important for Houston to do as well because chasing down Foles with the ball is a lot easier than chasing down Maclin and Sproles with the ball.

Found out today that Philly at Houston is on the same network and same start time as Arizona at Dallas so guess which game we're getting in Austin? Fortunately, I watch from a sports bar most of the time but those of you outside the Houston viewing area may need to check your local Fox listings to see if you are getting the Texans on tv this week.

Same here in Bryan-College Station. Go Cardinals.

@HoustonTexans: The roof at NRG Stadium will be closed today.

#TexansGameday

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If it isn't open on a day like today, it will never be open. Harris County wasted big bucks on that retractable roof and someone should be held accountable, IMO. Obviously the roof doesn't help grow the crappy sod.

It does get really noisy in NRG with the roof closed. Maybe something to do with it.

Inactives
 

Eagles: QB Matt Barkley, WR Brad Smith, S Nate Allen, C Julian Vandevelde, OL Dennis Kelly, LB Marcus Smith, DE Taylor Hart.

Texans: LB Jeff Tarpinian, LB Jadeveon Clowney, LB Brian Cushing, QB Tom Savage, WR DeVier Posey, CB Darryl Morris, T Jeff Adams,

One of stories for today is 7 former Texans, several which were fairly high draft picks and fan favorites, but due to salary cap limits are now Eagles.

DeMeco Ryans, Connor Barwin, Bryan Braman, James Casey, Donnie Jones, Jeff Maehl, and Andrew Gardner

Wouldn't it be nice to go into the bye @ 5-4?

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And here we go.......

Texans win the toss and defer.

Eagles bring the kickoff back to their 26 yard line. Eagle's ball.

Foles pressured by Watt/Dent and unloads it, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Mathews good for 5. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Foles pressured again and throws inc. Eagles will punt.

K Martin fair catches the punt at the Texan 33. Texan's ball.

Foster for maybe 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Pass to D Johnson goes for 11 and a 1st down.

Flags presnap. False start on Newton -5. 1st and 15 coming up.

Fitz scrambles for 8. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Foster has no room and loses a yard. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Short pass to Foster gets almost 8..... Texans going for it on 4th and short.

D Brown offsides makes it 4th and 6. Texans will punt.

Sproles fair catches the punt at the Eagle 12 yard line. Eagle's ball.

Pass to McCoy goes for no gain.

Handoff to McCoy gets no gain. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Maclin gets a 1st down.

Pass goes inc. but illegal contact on the Texans makes it 1st and 10 at the 29 yard line.

Pass to McCoy gets 6.

Foles runs for 1 yard. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to Sproles gets 4 and the 1st down. JJo shaken up on the play, injury timeout. Ball at the Eagle 41. 8:54 left in the 1st qtr.

Deep pass to Maclin goes for the TD.

Eagles 7, Texans 0

8:30 left in the 1st qtr.

Manning downs the ensuing kickoff in the end zone, touchback. Texans will have the ball at their 20.

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Fitz can't find a receiver and scrambles for about 5.

Foster for 3. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to Hopkins goes for 22 yards, 1st down.

Fitz can't find a receiver and gets sacked, -8.

Pass to Hopkins off the mark, inc. Brings up 3rd and 18.

Nice run by Foster is close to the 1st down....1st down.

Foster for 2. Ball at the Eagle 38.

Fitz is sacked again. Loss of 5.

On 3rd and 13, pass to Graham off the mark, inc. Texans will punt.

Lechler's punt goes into the end zone, touchback. Eagle's ball at their 20.

3:27 left in the 1st qtr.

Bouye with the pick! Knifes his way through the humanity for the TD! Pick 6!

Texans 7, Eagles 7

3:11 left in the 1st qtr.

Eagles bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 16 yard line. Eagle's ball.

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McCoy gets 3.

Pass to Cooper goes to the 32, 1st down.

Pass to Cooper gets 13.

McCoy goes right for 7.

Pass to Huff gets 7 and the 1st down.

Foles is sacked by Mercilus! Loss of 11. 2nd and 21 coming up.

Short pass to Maehl gets 5.

Foles sacked again by Mercilus! Eagles will have to punt.

End of the 1st qtr.

Nice to see Mercilus having success now with sacks.

Martin fair catches the ball at the Texan 15 yard line. Texan's ball.

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Foster for 4.

Fitz's pass to Foster off the mark, inc. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Fitz gets sacked and fumbles but is ruled down. Texans will have to punt.

Sproles returns the kick to the Eagle 40 yard line. Eagle's ball. 13:17 left in the half.

Sanchez in at QB.

Deep pass to Maclin is complete for huge gainer. Unsportmanlike on the Eagles after the play...... Ball at the Texans 23. Man, Andre Hal really stinking it up.

Quick pass to Sproles goes for 7.

McCoy goes right for a 1st down at the Texan 9.

McCoy for 5. 2nd and goal at the 4.

Sanchez sacked by Watt/Simon! Loss of 7.

Pass to Mathews good for the TD...

Eagles 14, Texans 7

10:41 left in the half.

Sanchez looked way to good on that TD drive. Hope our offense gets going.

Hal is not ready to play yet, but not much you can do if you lose your 2 starting corners.

Manning brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 17 but flags down.....illegal block in the back on the Texans, 1/2 the distance to the goal line. Places the ball at the Texan 8.

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Foster for 3.

Foster for no gain or loss of 1. Brings up 3rd and 8.

Pass to D Johnson only gets 5. Texans will punt.

Sproles fair catches at the Eagle 41. Eagle's ball. 8:38 left in the half.

McCoy TFL'ed for loss of 1.

McCoy for 3. Brings up 3rd and 8.

Pass to Huff goes for the 1st down at the Texan 47.

Sproles for 5.

Spoles goes left side for 7 and the 1st down.

Pass is tipped and INT'ed by Rolle! Texans will have the ball at their 32 yard line!

Nice interception there Mr. Rolle.

Had to look up Jamal Rolle, CB, 24 yrs old, 6'0", signed off Green Bay practice squad, went to Catawba College.

Turnovers for us have been our saving grace on a number of occasions. We have just learned how to turn the ball over.

Oh-oh, looks like Foster sprained his left wrist on that last run.

Pass to AJ gets 9.

Foster gets about 4 and the 1st down.

Pass to Hopkins gets 7 but flag is down.....defensive holding is accepted for 5 yards and an auto 1st down. Ball at the Texan 49.

Blue gets TFL'ed for a loss of 5. 2nd and 15 coming up.

Outlet pass to Foster goes all the way for the TD! 56 yards!

Texans 14, Eagles 14

3:58 left in the half.

Fitz is usually getting a lot of time in pocket today . I guess Fosters wrist feels much better after that 56 yd catch and run for TD.

The ensuing kickoff is downed in the end zone, touchback. Eagle's ball at their 20.

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McCoy for 9.

Pass to Mathews gets nice gainer, ball at the Texan 47, 1st down. Timeout Eagles (#1) @ 3:21 left in the half.

McCoy goes left for 5.

Pass to Celek gets about 4.

On 3rd and 1, Sanchez scrambles for 3 and the 1st down.

McCoy gets 4. Ball at the Texan 31. 2nd and 6 coming up.

2 minute warning.

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Sanchez runs for about 1. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Pass to Ertz gets 4...... Texans use a timeout......Eagles going for it on 4th and 1.

McCoy gets 1 and the 1st down.

Quick pass by Sanchez, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up with 50 seconds left in the half.

Sanchez calls a timeout (#2).

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Sproles gets about 5. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Watt with the sack! Eagles will go for the FG with 4 seconds left in the half.

Texans use a timeout during the 1st attempt...

Parkey's 45-yarder is good.

Eagles 17, Texans 14

Halftime.

Halftime stats:

Passing: Fitz 6/9, 110 yards, 1 TD

Rushing: Foster 9/32, Fitz 2/13, Blue 1/-5

Receiving: Foster 2/63, D Johnson 2/16, Hopkins 1/22, AJ 1/9

Tackles: Mercilus 8, Bouye/Watt/Mohamed 5 each, Hal/Manning/Swearinger 4 each, K Lewis 3

Total yards: Texans 135, Eagles 268

1st downs: Texans 6, Eagles 15

3rd down efficiency: Texans 2/6, Eagles 5/9

Red zone: Texans 0/0, Eagles 1/1

Turnovers: Texans 0, Eagles 2

Penalties: Texans 4/23, Eagles 2/20

Time of possession: Texans 14:12, Eagles 15:48

Manning downs the 2nd half kickoff in the end zone, touchback. Texans will have the ball at their 20.

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Foster for almost 7.

Foster for 10, 1st down.

Foster for 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Blue for 3 or 4. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Blue gets 2 and the 1st down.

Blue for maybe 1. Ball at midfield.

Deep pass to AJ broken up, inc. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Fitz gets sacked and holding on D Brown (declined) brings up 4th and 9. Texans will punt.

Sproles fair catches the punt at the Eagle 16. Eagle's ball.

Watt with the sack of Sanchez! Flag is down... holding on Bouye, 5 yards and an auto 1st down at the 20.

McCoy for small gain but illegal shift on the Eagles makes it 1st and 15.

Pass to Maclin gets 10.

McCoy for no gain. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Jeez, short pass to Sproles goes for big gainer. Ball at the Texans 46.

Pass goes inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Sanchez pass is deflected, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Jeez, another Sproles Houdini act as he catches the short pass for a 1st down.

Sanchez pass is batted down, inc. Ball at the Texan 43.

McCoy for 3. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Sanchez's pass goes inc. Eagles will punt.

K Martin fair catches the punt at the Texan 11 yard line. Texan's ball.

7:49 left in the 3rd qtr.

Foster for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Short pass to Hopkins gets 8 and the 1st down.

Foster gets about 6 but holding on B Jones brings it back. Makes it 1st and 20.

Swing pass to AJ gets about 5 but flag on the Eagles for facemask, 15 yards and a 1st down. Ball at the Texan 31.

Blue for about 3.

Fitz is pressured but escapes to throw it inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Nice play! Crossing route to Hopkins goes for a huge gainer! Ball at the Eagle 21.

Pass to Hopkins sails inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Fitz's pass goes to no one, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to AJ in the end zone a bit too long, inc. Texans will go for the FG.

Bullock's 39-yarder is no good. Oy.

Score remains:

Eagles 17, Texans 14

4:04 left in the 3rd qtr.

McCoy goes left side for 14 yards. Ball at the Eagle 44.

McCoy for 26.

Polk runs for 22. 1st and goal at the 8.

Polk pokes it in for the TD.

Eagles 24, Texans 14

2:40 left in the 3rd qtr.

I dunno if the D quit or is just totally gassed, maybe a little of each, but that was a really bad effort by them on that drive. Game is gettin away from us now.

almost like Bullocks missed FG took the starch out of our defense. We couldn't stop a run at all that drive by Eagles.

Manning lets the ensuing kickoff go out of the end zone, touchback. Texans will have the ball at their 20.

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Foster for loss of 1. Looks like the hamstring again...

Pass to Blue is dropped, inc. 3rd and 11 coming up.

Fitz is pressured and throws to AJ (complete) but out of bounds. Texans will have to punt.

Sproles brings the punt back to the Eagle 29 but flags are down......offsides Eagles is declined. Eagles will have the ball at their 29.

Hate to see the injury to Foster's leg.

Flags presnap. False start Eagles. Makes it 1st and 15.

McCoy for 5. 2nd and 10 coming up.

McCoy for 2. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Sanchez pass is INT'ed by Rolle! Texans will have the ball at the Eagle 38.

Wow, second INT by Rolle. and an INT by Buoye for TD early. Maybe these two guys ought to be our starting CB's if they can turn the ball over this well. Although perhaps their open field tackling isn't as good.

Maybe not at this point In the season, but IMO we cut our ties with JJo and Kareem Jackson. It seems like every other random DB is playing better. I'd rather deal with their young mistakes from time to time than JJo and KJaxs over paid ineptitude.

BTW Fitz is an idiot...