Stat Sheet: Eagles-Texans by the numbers
Plays from scrimmage it took the Eagles to get the ball to DeSean Jackson. If the wide receiver wanted a big play to make fans - and him - forget his contract worries, he got it on the first offensive play of the game.
Here are some numbers that stand out after Thursday night's Eagles-Texans game:
1
Plays from scrimmage it took the Eagles to get the ball to DeSean Jackson. If the wide receiver wanted a big play to make fans - and him - forget his contract worries, he got it on the first offensive play of the game, when Michael Vick found the young speedster wide open over the middle for 30 yards. That was the first play of an impressive 11-play touchdown drive that gave the Birds a 7-0 lead. Jackson ended with three catches for 84 yards, including a 33-yarder in the fourth quarter.
50
Penalty yards for the Eagles in the first half. The Eagles, after a disciplined three-penalty showing against the Bears, reverted to their old ways in the first 30 minutes against the Texans by committing five penalties. The worst, of course, was the holding call on rookie tight end Clay Harbor that negated Jorrick Calvin's 102-yard kick return for a touchdown. It's a good thing the Birds can neutralize that issue by scoring a ton of points. They ended with 85 penalty yards on 11 calls.
7-8
Vick misfired on just one of eight passes on the Birds' first touchdown drive, and that came when he threw the ball out of the end zone after failing to find an open receiver. If some folks still had any doubts about Vick as a passer, they have to be convinced by now that he is the real deal. Long to Jackson and Brent Celek and short to LeSean McCoy and Jason Avant, Vick is making every throw look easy.
42
Receiving yards in the first half for Texans star receiver Andre Johnson. While that number is nothing to sneeze at, it came on just one reception. For the Texans to score, which they can do, they need Johnson, one of the NFL's top receivers, to be involved in the offense for the entire game. The Birds did a nice job of shutting him down in the first two quarters. In the third quarter, Johnson caught a 31-yarder on third and 17 and a big gainer in the fourth quarter. He ended with six catches for 149 yards but no touchdowns.
13
Combined receptions for McCoy (8) and Jeremy Maclin (5). Yes, Jackson is the notorious big-play threat for the Eagles. But as long as McCoy and Maclin continue to chip in drive after drive, Jackson will be less likely to see double coverage and face injury on dangerous plays over the middle.
- Gary Miles