Check Points: Issues Eagles face while preparing for the Texans

Here are some issues to check on as the Eagles begin their short-week preparations for Thursday's game against the Houston Texans:

3 Arian Foster rushed for 143 yards and caught nine passes for the Texans on Sunday in a 20-0 shutout of the Tennessee Titans. Can the Birds find a way to keep that guy under control?

3 Will Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson be suspended for fighting with Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan? If he is, will he miss the Eagles game on Thursday? Bet Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott would hate that.

3 Will Eagles receiver Jason Avant continue to be Michael Vick's main wideout target? Avant tied a career high with eight receptions in Chicago on Sunday, and he tied his career high of 41 catches this season. Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson combined for just six catches against the Bears.

3 Asante Samuel missed the Bears game with a sprained knee, and the Birds had no interceptions. If Samuel does not make it to the field on Thursday - he says he will - will any of his teammates pick up the slack?

3 Speaking of picks, Houston cornerback Glover Quin set a franchise record with three against the Titans. Now that Vick has finally been intercepted, can Quin even come close to picking off Vick on Thursday?

3 Check out stories about the Eagles defense this week. No defender made more than five tackles against the Bears, and the Birds got credit for only one pass defended. The Texans could run roughshod over the Eagles if that is repeated on Thursday.

3 Will Houston quarterback Matt Schaub, a graduate of West Chester East, make his hometown fans proud?

3 LeSean McCoy will be looking to keep his sophomore season on track against the Texans. He has already racked up 1,414 career rushing yards, surpassing Wilbert Montgomery's 1,403 for the most ever by an Eagle in his first two NFL seasons.

3 Will Vick take apart the Houston defense? He threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears, tying for the second-highest yardage output of his career. It was his second 300-yard game of the season and the fourth of his career.

3 Can the Texans' defense stop the Eagles' ground game and force Vick to air it out even more? (Is that even possible?) The Eagles have averaged at least 4 yards per carry in all 11 games this season, surpassing the 1970 St. Louis Cardinals for the most ever to start a season.