Four days after DeSean Jackson was shut down at Chicago and called out by Eagles coach Andy Reid after the defeat, Philadelphia's receiver wasted no time having an impact Thursday night. It wasn't quite up to the standard Jackson set with an 88-yard touchdown on the first snap against Washington in Week 10 on "Monday Night Football," but his 30-yard catch on the opening play jump-started an 88-yard touchdown drive to start the Eagles' 34-24 victory over visiting Houston.
Jackson's 21-yard catch on third-and-3 on Philadelphia's second series moved the Eagles into Houston territory. They scored seven plays later to extend their lead to 14-3, having held the ball for 12:29 of the first 15:30.
Houston had closed within 17-10 when Eagles defensive tackle Trevor Laws intercepted Matt Schaub's pass at the Philadelphia 31, setting up David Akers' 22-yard field goal just before halftime. However, Schaub led an 11-play, 79-yard touchdown march, which he finished with a 13-yard toss to NFL rushing leader Arian Foster, to start the second half. Schaub then followed Jason Allen's interception with a 13-play, 86-yard drive -- highlighted by a 31-yard pass to Andre Johnson on 3rd-and-17 -- to give Houston a 24-21 lead.
Michael Vick answered, hitting a 33-yard completion to Jackson to set up the quarterback's 1-yard touchdown sneak two plays later, which put Philadelphia back on top.
Entended their lead to 34-24 thanks to running back LeSean McCoy's 40-yard dash with a screen pass, which led to Vick's 5-yard touchdown toss to fullback Owen Schmitt with just 4:18 to go. Vick completed 22 of 32 passes for 302 yards and two scores, his third 300-yard game this season.
The Eagles' fourth victory in five games since their bye week raised their record to 8-4 and moved them half a game ahead of the Giants in the NFC East, pending New York's game with Washington on Sunday.
The Texans, who shut out Tennessee last week after three straight excruciating defeats, fell to 5-7 and into the basement of the AFC South, a game and a half behind co-leaders Jacksonville and Indianapolis. The Jaguars visit the Titans on Sunday, while the Colts play host to the Dallas Cowboys.
Here are some thoughts on Thursday night's game:
• Johnson, who was fined $25,000 for his fistfight with Tennessee cornerback Cortland Finnegan last Sunday, gained seven yards on the Texans' second play -- the refs added 15 yards when Eagles cornerback Dimitri Patterson grabbed Johnson's facemask. Johnson finished with 149 yards on six catches despite missing much of the second quarter with a recurring ankle injury.
• LeSean McCoy continued his superlative second season by scoring the game's first two touchdowns, on a 2-yard toss from Vick and a 5-yard burst up the middle, respectively.
• Akers set an Eagles record by playing in his 184th game. The 12-year veteran passed safety Brian Dawkins, a former teammate now with Denver.
• Philadelphia Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel was inactive for the second straight game. Joselio Hanson started for him again.
• Jeremy Maclin was the stud on the Eagles' third possession, which ended with Akers' 36-yard field goal that made it 17-3 with 9:35 left in the first half. Maclin started the drive with a 34-yard catch-and-run. and two plays later. added a 12-yard grab to the Houston 24 on second-and-11.
• On his first play back after having his ankle checked out, Johnson burned Patterson with a double move and hauled in a 42-yard pass from Philadelphia-area native Schaub. Two plays later, Jacoby Jones outleaped Hanson in the end zone for the 7-yard touchdown which drew Houston within 17-10 with 5:38 left in the half.
• The Eagles got a break when clinging to the 27-24 lead in the fourth quarter, when the officials failed to call an illegal contact penalty on linebacker Ernie Sims, one play before the red-hot Texans offense was forced to punt the ball back to Philadelphia. And on Houston's fourth-and-5 play with 3:21 remaining, the officials didn't call cornerback Trevard Lindley for interfering with receiver Kevin Walter, or Hanson for a shot to Schaub's head. Philadelphia gave the ball right back, but after Johnson's 39-yard catch, blitzing rookie safety Nate Allen stripped Schaub. Defensive end Darryl Tapp recovered to finally put the Texans away.
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