The Eagles took a beating in Week 12 and the Texans dished one out-literally. Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson was ejected in the fourth quarter of the team’s shutout win over Tennessee after the eighth-year veteran found himself in a full-fledged fist-fight with the Titans’ Cortland Finnegan.Johnson was asked to leave the game and could face further disciplinary action from the NFL, but at least the Texans won. The same can’t be said for Michael Vick and the Eagles, who lost a surprising contest to upstart Chicago on Sunday to fall behind the Bears in the NFL standings.
Philadelphia will attempt to regain their confidence and keep their playoff hopes alive when they host the Texans on Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Vick-perhaps the biggest individual success story of the NFL season-struggled against Chicago’s defence, at least by the lofty standards he has set for himself this year. The Eagles’ quarterback threw for 333 yards and a pair of scores, but also recorded his first interception in four years. The Bears did an excellent job clogging up receiving routes, and quarterback Jay Cutler had one of the best games of his career to take advantage of Vick’s mediocre performance.
The Eagles were without the services of cornerbacks Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs against the Bears, and hope that Samuel will be able to return against the Texans. Hobbs is out for the season-and possibly for good-after suffering a serious neck injury in Week 11.
The Texans come into Thursday’s matchup on the heels of their first home shutout in franchise history. Although the brawl between Johnson and Finnegan was the most memorable aspect of the game, there were some positive signs for a Houston team that has struggled with the second half of their NFL schedule. Arian Foster-the league leader in rushing yards with 1147-ran for 143 yards on Sunday while adding 75 receiving yards; his highest total of the season. Foster continues to impress in his second year as a pro, and could present matchup problems for the Eagles with his size and ability to break through to the secondary.
Philadelphia is no stranger to running the ball, though: the Eagles are third in the league in rushing yards per game, and eighth overall in passing.Vick’s ability to throw or run the football could present major problems for a Houston team that is dead last in passing yards allowed. The Texans’painfully bad pass defence has played a significant role in a 1-4 record since their bye, and Philadelphia is guaranteed to attack through the air early and often.
While Houston’s victory over the Titans was statistically impressive, it also came against a team dealing with serious turmoil off the field in the wake of Vince Young’s banishment. Likewise, the Eagles’ loss to Chicago should not be overstated: Philadelphia was missing a key defensive piece, and Vick’s interception was more an anomaly than a trend. The Eagles should handle the Texans in a high-scoring affair this Thursday.
