Preview: Eagles Crucial Meeting With the Texans

By Gia Lanci, Sports Talk Philly Staff

The Eagles will play a game against the Houston Texans. The Eagles are coming off a huge win against the Rams last week. They need to beat the Texans to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Texans have a record of 10 wins and four losses. Both defenses are stellar with some weapons on both of their offenses as well.

Week 15’s Huge Triumph

When the Eagles played the Rams in week 15, they beat them 30-23. The entire team stepped up on both sides of the ball. There was some really great offensive plays made. The play calling was really good, and that set up Nick Foles to make good plays and connect with players. Nick Foles did a great job of throwing the ball accurately and quickly. If the pocket was closing in, he was mobile. The most important thing was that they got a variety of players involved. That allowed them to get into the end zone and put more points on the board.

The defense really cultivated the situation they had. They were underdogs, they still are, and they play better like that. Everyone on the defense improved a lot recently. The front line is very good and was able to hold Todd Gurley in check. When they got into the secondary, some of the defenders there really stepped up and made some big plays. There are still spots to improve, but last week was a big improvement from recent weeks.

Texans and Eagles Match-ups

The Texans have actually never beaten the Eagles. In the four times they have met, the Eagles have always won. That being said, this season is much different with a lot more on the line.

The last meeting between the teams was in 2014. The Eagles won with a score of 31-21. Nick Foles actually played in that game and threw one touchdown and one interception. Mark Sanchez came in for some of the game, as well. J.J Watt was a threat then and he is still a threat now. He had seven tackles in that game with one and a half sacks.

Houston Texans

Last week, the Texans beat the Jets 29-22. The Texans had a slow start but have been playing consistently, getting better throughout the season. The pairing of Jadeveon Clowney and J.J. Watt is scary. Watt has 54 tackles, 14.5 sacks and six forced fumbles. Clowney has 37 tackles and eight sacks. It is going to be difficult for the offensive line to give Nick Foles enough time with those two coming at him. The Texans have some offensive weapons with DeShaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins. The key is keeping them from getting into our weak secondary. It will be a tough game for both, but it should be one of the Eagles’ best match-ups this season. It is a home game and the Eagles are underdogs. We all know what happened last year when the Eagles were underdogs.

Injury Report

Eagles

Out

CB Sidney Jones, QB Carson Wentz, G Isaac Seumalo

Wentz was ruled out on Monday at Doug Pederson’s press conference when he announced that Foles was going to start to give Wentz some more time to rest.

Sidney Jones’ position will be taken by Rasul Douglas and Avonte Maddox. Maddox had a fantastic game last week, and Douglas really has stepped up.

Wisniewski will take the place of Seumalo again. He has been doing a pretty good job of that.

Questionable

DE Michael Bennett, DT Timmy Jernigan, CB Cre’Von LeBlanc and D.J. Alexander

Michael Bennett has been questionable for the last few weeks and has been ended up playing. It is essential to have Michael Bennett in to put big pressure onto Watson. Timmy Jernigan would help out the defense if we got him back, but he has been limited at practice all week. The Texans weakness is their offensive line, so Bennett and Jernigan playing would be a huge boost.

Cre’Von LeBlanc is the team’s starting slot corner. He has steadily improved, but, if he is unable to go, De’Vante Bausby looks to be in for some major playing time with Sidney Jones out.

D.J. Alexander made some good plays last week, but he did not practice Thursday or Friday, so he is doubtful.

Texans

Out

S Mike Tyson

Tyson has a concussion and will not play. He is the backup safety for the Texans.

Questionable

RB Lamar Miller, WR Keke Coutee, CB Jonathan Joseph, WR DeAndre Hopkins, G Senio Kelemete and DT Brandon Dunn

Lamar Miller will most likely play, though he may not be 100%. Miller is the Texans’ top running back.

Keke Coutee was out all of last week and did not play, which may be the case again. It would be good for the Eagles defense if they had less offensive variety on the field. DeAndre Hopkins is hurt, but cannot be ruled out. He is their best offensive weapon so, if he does not play, that gives the Eagles a huge advantage. If he does the defense has to prevent him from reaching the secondary, and, if he does, the secondary needs to be ready. He is hurt which still gives the Eagles an advantage. If both Hopkins and Coutee are out, Demaryius Thomas will be the biggest receiving threat and former Eagle DeAndre Carter would likely see the field quite a bit.

Joseph being out will help the Eagles offense out because he is their top corner. Meanwhile, Dunn is their top nose tackle and the Texans would be forced to play three defensive ends the whole game. Watt and Clowney will have to step up and do jobs for the second strings if that is the case.

Kelemete is the starting left guard for an offensive line that is the weakest unit on the team. The Texans do not have a designated backup guard and would need to shift linemen around like the Eagles do with Seumalo, further weakening the offensive front for the Eagles defensive line

Update: Miller, Coutee and Dunn will not travel with the and Texans will be out. The other three players remain questionable.

#Texans WR Keke Coutee, NT Brandon Dunn and RB Lamar Miller will not travel with the team to Philadelphia and have been downgraded to OUT for Sunday’s game against the Eagles.

— Texans PR (@TexansPR) December 22, 2018

Broadcast Information

Time: 1:00 PM

TV: CBS

Radio: 94.1 FM WIP

Online: NFL Game Pass