EAGLES-TEXANS WRAP-UP

A wrap-up of the incredible Eagles-Texans game yesterday at Lincoln Financial Field..

- Saint Nick Foles delivered again. Especially the final  game-winning drive. Foles led the Birds to a field goal, starting at their own 11-yard line. Foles almost suffered a knockout blow from Clowney, who buried his helmet into Nick's chest. For a moment he was flat on his back. Suddenly, like he was resurrected from the dead, Foles arose and ran to the sidelines only for the required play, then came back on the field to a thunderous ovation from 65,000 relieved fans.

Foles threw for a record 471 yards and 4 touchdowns. He stayed calm and cool and led the Eagles to victory. Sunday's incredible win was yet another chapter in the legend of Nick Foles. He already has a statue at the Linc. What more can be done if he takes the Eagles to glory once again?

He has to play next week against Washington. What happens after the season will come later. Will the Eagles find a way to keep both Wentz and Foles? Will Foles walk for really big money and a starting job elsewhere?Would the unthinkable happen and Carson Wentz is the odd man out?

- Lane Johnxon and the entire offensive line played well. Johnson was up against J.J. Watt. For the most part Johnson held the All-Pro pretty much in check. The line gave Foles a chance to throw the ball deep. Vaithi screwed up a few times, his hands full with Clowney. But all in all, the O-line held up for Foles.

- Nelson Agholor proved once again that he can be the speedy receiver the Eagles have needed to take the top off defenses. If the Birds re-sign Golden Tate, why not play Tate in the slot next season, and play Agholor on the outside?

- Zach Ertz broke the record for catches in a season by tight ends, once held by Cowboy Jason Whitten. Ertz has been incredible all year and remains the sure-thing in the offense when a big first down is needed.

- Up to this season, 69% of the time the reigning Super Bowl champion makes the playoffs the following year. Hopefully the Eagles continue this trend.At least getting back into the playoffs would show the doubters that last year was not just a fluke. For that to happen Philly needs to beat the Redskins and need help in Minnesota, needing the bears to beat the host Vikings.Both games have been flexed to 4:25 next Sunday.

- Jackass Michael Strahan picked the Texans to win before the game. He is everywhere on TV. Why? He sucks.The Fox pre-game show, once revered and current, is now out-dated and a bore. Old guys like Bradshaw, Long and Jphnson are no longer trusted or reliable. Strahan, plus losers ;like Rob Riggle ( not as funny Frank Caliendo) just adds to the medocrity.

- Win or not I'm still not happy with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and his bend-but-don't -break defense. Again his defense allowed a team to overcome a large deficit in the 4th quarter and took the lead. Foles and Elliot bailed him out.

- Jake Elliot- love to hate him? He always seems to miss an extra point each game. He did again on Sunday. But he may have saved his career with his game-winning kick with three seconds left.Elliot has made a few big kicks for the birds in the last few years, but I would still bring in some competition at training camp next year.

- Who is Boston Scott? He was returning kickoffs late in the game, Unwisely, he took the last kickoff out of the end zone and only brought it back to the 11-yard line where Foles began his now-legendary final drive.

- What a difference Darren Sproles makes! The Eagles really have missed him. He's take speedy change of pace running back they need, able to burst thru a hole or catch a soft pass in the flap, out-running a linebacker. Plus he is ever-dangerous as a punt returner. The return game on both punts and kickoffs needs to be address this off-season.

- Mike Trout was in attendance, as usual, and got the ball after Sproles' TD catch and spring in the first half.Anything to butter him up and convince him even more that he needs to play for the Phillies down the road.

- Penalties were a key part of the game. Too many flags on tickky-tsck plays, yet the refs didn't make calls on pretty obvious plays, including the two-point conversion try when Foles was roughly thrown to the ground by his face-mask.

Something needs to be done with the officials. The game isn't as enjoyable when after every play you gotta look around for penalty flags.

- Why did Doug Pederson  go for two points when the score was 13-9 in the first half? He didn't make it, whereas he did convert on several 4th down tries during the game. Isn't the logic that you don't chase points so early in the game? With Elliot missing his extra point attempt, and the failed two point try, it left the Eagles one point short and needing that last-second field goal to win.

- Turnovers again were huge, especially Joss Adams' fumble in the 4th quarter when the Eagles were trying to put the game away.

- Houston's DeAndre Hopkins showed that he is one of the elite wide receivers in the NFL. He is big and has speed and makes incredible, circus catches. Meanwhile the texans' other receiver, Demetrius Thomas, was carted off the field with an Achilles injury.

- So, what does it all mean? It would be a shame if the Eagles don't make the playoffs now that they are playing so well. Philly put themselves in this position, needing another team to win in the Bears. It won't matter unless the Eagles go to Washington and take care of business.

It was a great game yesterday and now the Eagles are 8-7. Losing to average teams like Carolina, Tampa Bay and Tennessee comes back to haunt the Birds. Dallas wins the NFC East with their win, keeping the tradition since  2004 that no team has won back-to-back division titles  ( Philadelphia did it that year).

If Arizona surprises the Rams next week the bears still have a shot to grab a playoff bye if they beat the Vikes. Minnesota should win, playing at home and having more incentive to win.

If the year ends next week it's been an interesting, yet disappointing season. The Eagles would pick around No. 18 in the dr4aft next spring.  They would get an easier scheduled for 2019. And if the Eagles beat the Skins they would go out on a positive note. Foles sets himself up for a big contract after still not losing in the playoffs the last two seasons.

However if the Eagles go sneak into the playoffs who wants to face the magical Foles and his Eagles? Philly would go in as an experienced, destined team. Yes, as reigning champs the bulls-eye would be on their backs as opposing teams would want to be the ones who finally slay Foles. Plus we wouldn't have a first-round bye or home field advantage. We would probably play the Bears in Chicago, a young team with a great defense but inexperienced.

We will cross that bridge when we come to it. Til then it's enjoying Christmas week with still a chance. Merry Christmas everyone!

I went 1-1 with my NFL picks, reaching 20-15 on the season.