NFL Thursday night: Jalen Hurts, Eagles rise to 8-0

Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw two second-half touchdown passes as Philadelphia put away the Houston Texans 29-17 in a Thursday night NFL game that moved the Eagles to 8-0 for the first time in franchise history.

Houston proved a tougher challenge for undefeated Philadelphia than the Texans’ record would have indicated. Houston entered the contest with a 1-5-1 mark, but a touchdown with 37 seconds left in the second quarter had the Texans in a halftime tie with the Eagles at 14-14.

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“There’s a lot to be grateful about,” Hurts said. “There’s a lot to reflect on and look at the things that we did well. There’s also a lot we can improve on, and I’m not going to make excuses about anything or the short week. We have a standard of play, and we want to play to that at all times, so it’s a learning experience for us, it’s a formative experience that will only build us up. I truly think the only direction is to rise.

“Playing in the city of Houston, being the first time playing back at home was a special moment for me personally. I think the job is still not done. I talk about there never being an arrival and there only being a journey, and that’s something that I embrace. That’s something this football team embraces – the journey of what’s ahead, the journey of daily deposits and daily improvement and daily efforts to be the best football team we can be.”

Hurts threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver A.J. Brown with 8:04 left in the third quarter to break the tie after the Eagles got possession on the Texans 17-yard line with an interception.

After a field goal by Houston, the former Alabama standout capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Goedert, then pushed in a 2-point conversion sneak with 11:22 remaining in the game. Goedert had eight receptions for 100 yards on Thursday night.

Hurts completed 21-of-27 passes for 243 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and ran for 23 yards on nine carries against the Texans.

Hurts’ passing-efficiency rating of 128.9 was the second-highest of his career behind his 140.6 on Sunday. In the Eagles’ 35-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Hurts completed 19-of-28 passes for 285 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Hurts passed on third down three times on Philadelphia’s opening possession, and he had completions of 23, 9 and 16 yards as the Eagles went 91 yards on 18 snaps in 13:27 to tie the game at 7-7.

Hurts had two third-down runs in the game, too, picking up 2 yards on third-and-1 and 14 yards on third-and-15, then getting the first down on a run on the ensuing fourth-down snap.

Hurts fumbled twice, and Houston recovered one of them – the Eagles’ first lost fumble of the season.

Hurts fulfilled a childhood dream by playing in NRG Stadium in his hometown.

“He had the same look on his face as though it didn’t matter,” Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni said. “That’s who he is and that’s how he goes about his business. It was nice that I finally got to meet his family. Nice people, and it was really nice to be able to meet them to put a face to the conversations that Jalen and I have. He speaks so highly of his family. I know that felt good for him. It’s something he can enjoy now, but he didn’t approach that game any differently than he did the Pittsburgh game, than he approached the Cowboys game. That’s why he’s a true professional.”

Houston running back Dameon Pierce gained 139 yards on 27 carries against the Eagles.

In addition to Hurts, 13 players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field in the Philadelphia-Houston game:

· Texans defensive end Mario Addison (Tarrant, Troy) made one tackle.

· Eagles safety Reed Blankenship (West Limestone) played but did not record any stats.

· James Bradberry (Pleasant Grove, Samford) started at cornerback for the Eagles. Bradberry made four tackles and intercepted a pass. Bradberry picked off Houston quarterback Davis Mills at the Philadelphia 3-yard line with 2:08 left to play to end the Texans’ final possession. Bradberry had a 22-yard return on his third interception of the season and 18th of his career.

· Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) was designated as a game-day inactive. A groin injury sidelined Collins for the second straight game.

· Landon Dickerson (Alabama) started at left guard for the Eagles.

· Eagles offensive lineman Jack Driscoll (Auburn) played but did not record any stats.

· Christian Harris (Alabama) started at linebacker for the Texans. Harris made five tackles, recorded a tackle for loss and forced a fumble (which Philadelphia recovered).

· O.J. Howard (Autauga Academy, Alabama) started at tight end for the Texans. Howard had a 14-yard reception.

· Tytus Howard (Monroe County, Alabama State) started at right offensive tackle for the Texans.

· Eagles cornerback Josh Jobe (Alabama) played but did not record any stats. Jobe left the game in the second half with a thigh injury.

· Texans wide receiver John Metchie III (Alabama) is on reserve/illness and not eligible to play.

· Eagles punter Arryn Siposs (Auburn) averaged 49.7 yards on three punts, with a 50.3-yard net average. Siposs had a 47-yard punt returned for minus-2 yards to the Houston 36-yard line, a 52-yarder for a fair catch at the Houston 20 and a 50-yarder for a fair catch at the Houston 38.

· DeVonta Smith (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Eagles. Smith caught two passes for 22 yards.

· Texans cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) played but did not record any stats.

· Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins (Athens) caught two passes for 25 yards.

Philadelphia returns to the field on Nov. 14, when the Eagles host the Washington Commanders in the Week 10 Monday night game. Houston visits the New York Giants on Nov. 13 for its next game.

The Eagles are the 29th team in the NFL’s Super Bowl era to win their first eight games in a season. Fifteen of those teams reached the Super Bowl, and eight won it.

“I know it’s special for the city of Philadelphia,” Hurts said of the Eagles’ undefeated record. “I’ve been 8-0 before and lost in the national championship. You know what I’m saying? Take it day-by-day. We haven’t accomplished anything yet.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.