Eagles move to 8-0 behind C.J. Gardner-Johnson, run game in sloppy 29-17 win over Texans | Observations

HOUSTON – When the Eagles ran on the field at NRG Stadium Thursday night to take on the Houston Texans, they were expected to win the game easily, with many Eagles fans hoping they would have the chance to flip the channel and watch the Phillies play the Houston Astros in the World Series. After all, the Texans were entering the game with a 1-5-1 record.

However, the Eagles look sluggish, feeling the effects from playing on Sunday, or they took the Texans lightly. Whatever the reason, the Eagles found themselves in a tough battle.

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However, on a third and six with 8:23 left in the third quarter, they got the spark they needed from one of the newer players on the roster. With Texans quarterback Davis Mills scrambling to buy time, he threw an ill-advised pass that Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson left wide receiver Chris Moore and dove for the ball, collecting an interception that he returned to the Texans’ 17-yard line.

The Eagles later cashed in on the turnover, with quarterback Jalen Hurts throwing a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver A.J. Brown. That score proved to be the turning point in the Eagles’ 29-17 win over the Texans, maintaining their standing as the only unbeaten team in the NFL sporting an 8-0 record.

Gardener-Johnson’s interception could not have come at a better time for the Eagles, even if it was historic. It was the fourth-straight game in which Gardner-Johnson had an interception, something that no Eagles had done since safety Bill Bradley did in 1972. Gardner-Johnson, who added three more tackles and a pass defended to his stat line, has given the Eagles a legitimate threat on the defensive backend because of his ability to read the routes that are developing downfield and his ability to anticipate where the ball will be thrown.

A free agent in the upcoming offseason, Gardner-Johnson is setting himself up for a nice payday.

Here are some other observations from Sunday’s win against the Texans:

Texans run game eats up Eagles defense

The Texans kept the game close because of their ability to run the ball, feeding Dameon Pierce the ball early and often. Pierce, who finished the game with 27 carries for 139 yards, put the Texans in manageable third-down situations, opening up the entire Texans’ playbook and keeping the Eagles defense off-balance.

It did not help that the Eagles had issues bringing Pierce to the ground, only throwing a shoulder into him or trying to arm tackle him, something that Pierce easily eschewed. The absence of defensive tackle Jordan Davis was huge, with the Texans able to open holes in the middle of the field.

Javon Hargrave continues to get pressure

Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave has continued to string together good games. After having two sacks against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Hargrave followed up with three more Thursday to go along with his seven tackles. The Eagles needed Hargrave to step up with Davis out, and he did that. Hargrave has looked more explosive than he did at the end of last season and is continuing to make an impact by making it tough for quarterbacks to step up in the pocket.

Offensive line key in ground game against Texans defense

The Eagles also had their own success on the ground against one of the worst run defenses in the league. Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson were vital in the first half when the passing game looked stagnant, turning to running backs Miles Sanders and Kenneth Gainwell, running mainly to the left side.

Mailata and Dickerson were getting good jumps off the ball and began pushing back the Texans defensive line, picking up significant yards that allowed the Eagles put themselves in third and short situations. In the second half, right tackle Lane Johnson and right guard Isaac Seumalo were counted upon in the run game and did well. The Eagles surprisingly did not run the ball more early in the game but relied on it and had success when it counted.

18-play drive needed as a response in the first quarter

Down by a touchdown early and backed up inside their 20-yard line, the Eagles used an 18-play, 83-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard Sanders touchdown run. The touchdown was vital because the Eagles needed to keep the momentum entirely on the side of the Texans, potentially giving them more life and putting them in a deeper hole to start the game. The Eagles have strung together long drives this season, but this may have been the most important one, even if the Texans were the opponent.

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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.

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