Eagles Solidify Their Super Bowl Expectations With Decisive ‘Thursday Night Football’ Win
Posted on: November 4, 2022, 04:20h.
Last updated on: November 4, 2022, 04:20h.
The Philadelphia Eagles are on a path they’ve never seen before. They are now 8-0 this season after a strong Thursday Night Football performance, the first time in the team’s history in the NFL that it has achieved the feat.
The Eagles beat the Houston Texans 29-17, sending their opponents down to 1-6-1 on the season. At the same time, they continued to show their determination to be true contenders for a Super Bowl run this year.
Philadelphia has odds of around +500 to win Super Bowl LVII. This keeps them in second place, just behind the Buffalo Bills’ +225. As long as they continue to play solid on both sides of the ball, the Eagles have a real shot.
Hurts Puts The Hurt On Houston
Philadelphia’s quarterback and the team’s top benchmark, Jalen Hurts, had another brilliant performance. He posted excellent numbers, passing for 243 yards with two TDs. Eagles running back Miles Sanders stood out with 93 rushing yards and a TD, as well.
Dallas Goedert was Jalen Hurts’ go-to man, as the tight end recorded eight receptions for 100 yards. That was enough to give him his second-highest passing game of the season. At the same time, receiver A.J. Brown followed with 59 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave shone with three sacks. Safety Chauncey Gardner and corner James Bradberry each intercepted Texans QB Davis Mills, a reflection of how complete this Eagles team is.
The Texans’ offense, second to last in the league, took control on the game’s opening drive. It pushed back the Eagles defense as it advanced 75 yards in nine plays. Houston then punctuated the drive with a pass into the end zone that tight end Teagan Quitoriano deftly grabbed to give the Texans a 7-0 lead.
Philadelphia, with the NFL’s third-best offense, answered immediately. It chewed up just over eight minutes on the clock that ended with a rushing touchdown by Sanders.
In the second quarter, the Texans defense found something that has avoided them for most of the season – positive results. It caused the Eagles’ first fumble of the season when cornerback Steven Nelson hit Hurts, leading to a fumble that defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson scooped up.
In the fourth quarter, already sitting on a comfortable lead, Hurts picked up his second TD pass of the game. He found Goedert in the end zone and, following a successful two-point conversion, extended the Eagles’ lead to 29-17.
Turning Up The Pressure
No NFL team has gone undefeated across the entire season since the Miami Dolphins pulled it off in 1972. While Philadelphia might not get there this year, it should be able to coast to a strong finish, with several easy weeks coming up.
On a night when their counterparts in MLB, the Philadelphia Phillies, were losing to the Houston Astros in the World Series, the Eagles soared. However, they didn’t give sports bettors a lot to cheer about. The spread had been set at around 14, and they only won by 12.
The over/under was around 45.5, and the final score missed hitting the over by a couple of points. Despite winning, the Eagles didn’t provide the runaway performance most expected.
They’ll get an extended break now before taking on the Washington Commanders in Monday Night Football on November 14 to close out Week 10. The Commanders, the latest acquisition target of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is 4-4 after winning three straight.
The Texans can now officially call this a transition year, as they’re not in a spot to improve. They will next face the 6-2 New York Giants, who will be coming off a bye week.
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