Upon Further Review: This time, Chip Kelly goes for it

HOUSTON - Faced with going for it on fourth and 1 or kicking a field goal with a 24-21 lead late in the fourth quarter, Chip Kelly elected to go for it.

Last week, the circumstances were slightly different when the Eagles coach was confronted with a pivotal fourth-down call. The Eagles were at the 2-yard line with just under two minutes left in a tie game. Kelly took the field goal and the three-point lead and said he trusted his defenders to hold.

They did not.

But the Eagles had more success on the ground Sunday against the Texans, and Kelly called on his offense.

"I just thought it was close and that we could get a first down," Kelly said.

The Eagles failed on third and 1 last week when Nick Foles took the snap in the shotgun and handed off to LeSean McCoy, who was dropped in the backfield. On this fourth down, Mark Sanchez was under center and Chris Polk was in the backfield. The Eagles ran a straight power run, and the running back eked out a 1-yard gain.

A play later, Sanchez passed to Jeremy Maclin for a touchdown and sealed the game.

The Eagles were successful on all three of their red-zone possessions a week after the NFL's worst offense inside the 20 failed to convert all three of their opportunities.

Sanchez hit Jordan Matthews for an 11-yard touchdown pass on third down for the first conversion. Polk rumbled 8 yards for the second score in the red zone. And Sanchez connected with Maclin for an 8-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles entered the game last in the NFL in red-zone offense, and it wasn't even close. They had converted just 8 of 23 red-zone possessions (34.8 percent) into touchdowns.

Kelly said turnovers were the main issue, but there were myriad problems. They fixed the turnovers - at least in the red zone - but Sanchez's effectiveness and the return of center Jason Kelce played a part in Sunday's success rate.

The Eagles had their best game running the ball on short yardage this season, and the return of Kelce was likely a contributing factor.

Including the fourth quarter fourth-and-1 conversion, the Eagles were successful on four third- or fourth-down runs of 1 yard.

In the second quarter, LeSean McCoy plowed ahead for 1 yard on fourth down. Polk ran 3 yards on third down in the third quarter. And after he converted the key fourth down on the game-sealing drive, Polk delivered again on third down as the Eagles drained the clock and ended the game.

The Eagles kept Arian Foster in check on the ground (15 carries for 56 yards and a 3.7 average), but he got them through the air in the second quarter on a wheel route. The Texans running back rolled out of the backfield, up the right sideline, and beat linebacker Connor Barwin for a 56-yard touchdown catch.

"We showed blitz and only rushed three, and they just got a matchup that they just outran us," Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis said. "Connor ran as fast he could and had all the technique. They just made a play on us."

Foster didn't have any other receptions, however, and showed his frustrations in the third quarter when he limped to the sideline and slammed his helmet to the turf after suffering a groin injury.

McCoy's 23-carry, 117-yard performance marked his second 100-yard rushing game of the season. McCoy had seven games with more than 100 yards in 2013.

"It's weird that every time I get 100 yards it's like a big deal, where I'm used to just doing it," McCoy said.

McCoy credited the return of Kelce at center as one of the reasons for the big game. He said defenses still stacked the box against the Eagles. McCoy was still able to get chunks of yards, with a long of 26 yards.

After a slow September, McCoy is now rolling. He's averaged 107.5 yards during the last four games and 4.8 yards per carry.

Polk had more of a role in Sunday's game than he's had in previous games this season. Polk rushed eight times for 50 yards and one touchdown. He entered the game with just three carries this season.

"Just rolling him in," Kelly said. "Chris has gotten bigger and has gotten stronger. He was obviously a guy we were really excited about."

A hamstring injury kept Polk out of the preseason and slowed him during the early part of the season.

Josh Huff could not grab a pass that hit his hands in the second quarter, deflecting the ball for an interception. It thwarted a potential scoring drive. Huff made a costly error in the Eagles' previous game, when he fumbled in the red zone. The Eagles like the talent of their third-round pick, but he cannot make those mistakes if he's going to earn more playing time.

Sanchez's first pass on Sunday was a 52-yard deep post to Maclin.

"We wanted to ease him in," Maclin joked.

Sanchez said he thought it might be a running play or a screen, but said the play call reflected Kelly's personality. He compared Kelly to a basketball coach who sends a player in off the bench to shoot a three-pointer.

The Eagles lost 15 yards after the play, when Maclin was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Maclin said his leg was being held after the play. Kelly could be seen in a discussion with Maclin when the drive was completed.

"I've got to keep my head," Maclin said. "I kind of got up and said a little bit, but that's part of football."

With his 117 yards on Sunday against Houston, LeSean McCoy moved past Brian Westbrook into second place on the Eagles' all-time rushing list. Here is the top five.

PLAYER   ATT   YARDS   AVG   TD

Wilbert Montgomery   1,465   6,538   4.5   45

LeSean McCoy   1,309   6,095   4.7   40   

Brian Westbrook   1,308   5,995   4.6   37

Steve Van Buren   1,320   5,860   4.4   69

Duce Staley   1,200   4,807   4.0   22

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