NFL: Eagles beat Texans for franchise-record start to the season
Houston, Texas - The NFL's Philadelphia Eagles reached 8-0 for the first time in franchise history with a 29-17 victory on the road over the under-manned Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Thursday.
Jalen Hurts claimed his 11th straight regular-season win, which is the longest streak in franchise history, completing 21 of 27 passes for two touchdowns and 243 yards with no interceptions.
Hurts has multiple touchdowns in three consecutive games for the first time in his career, but the Eagles also did damage with their rushing game.
Running backs Miles Sanders, who had 17 carries for 93 yards, and Kenneth Gainwell both scored touchdowns. The latter's TD was the Eagles' 16th rushing TD of the season, which is the franchise's most through eight games since 1949.
The Texans pushed the Eagles in the first half, with quarterback Davis Mills finding Teagan Quitoriano for their first opening drive score of the season, but the visitors hit back, with Sanders scoring after Hurts and tight end Dallas Goedert had combined for a 16-yard gain.
Sanders' 25-yard gain led to Gainwell's touchdown in the second quarter, with a huge run by impressive Texans rookie running back Dameon Pierce, who made a career-high 139 yards on 27 carries, leading to Chris Moore squaring the game up at half-time with a TD.
Mills, who made 13 of 22 passes for 154 yards, threw one of two interceptions to CJ Gardner-Johnson in the third quarter, leading to AJ Brown's TD when wide open from Hurts' 17-yard pass.
Hurts and Goedert combined twice in the same drive leading to the latter's fourth-quarter TD. Goedert finished the game with 100 yards on eight receptions.
Cover photo: REUTERS