‘Dallas Day’ in Houston Keeps Texans Reeling

HOUSTON – The Eagles have been in South Texas on Thursday night time, outlasting the upstart Houston Texans, 29-17, to maneuver to 8-0 for the primary time in franchise historical past.

Regardless of the situation being Jalen Hurts’ adopted hometown (he’s technically from the Houston suburb of Channelview), there was loads of Dallas speak as effectively.

Not Cowboys interlopers, nonetheless.

The “star” of Thursday’s sport was Dallas Goedert and coach Nick Sirianni went to “Friday Night time Lights” and the outline of Dallas Carter Excessive College to elucidate the skills of his tight finish who did all of it within the win over the Texans.

Whether or not it was hauling in eight of his 9 targets for 100 yards and a landing, appearing as Jalen Hurts’ as his blocking sled on the quarterback sneak, or serving to out a struggling Jordan Mailata towards the at all times spectacular Jerry Hughes, Goedert was indispensable for the Eagles.

“We confirmed a clip (Wednesday) from “Friday Night time Lights” they usually have been explaining Dallas Carter. And through it, he mentioned, ‘they’re huge, they’re quick, they’re imply, they’re sturdy, they usually’re quick,’” Sirianni smiled. “ … That’s rationalization of who Dallas Goedert is. “He’s huge, he’s sturdy, he’s quick, he’s imply. And he’s quick.

“And that’s why he’s so productive.”

Goedert was a handful for the Texans all night time, maybe probably the most dominant participant on the sphere. He was open all night time, he pushed round whomever he appreciated, and he blocked like a flex tight finish shouldn’t be capable of block.

“You’re simply seeing his sport elevate,” Sirianni mentioned. “I hope what everyone seems to be seeing on these nationally televised video games is what we see day by day in follow, and what we’ve seen constantly these final two years, Dallas Goedert deserves consideration for being among the best tight ends within the NFL.”

Thursday’s sport was Goedert’s fourth-career 100-yard outing and a season-high for him in 2022.

“Anytime my quantity will get referred to as I need to make a play,” Goedert mentioned.

The excessive level was the “Dallas Drive” that bridged the top of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth, and turned a precarious 21-17 benefit into the 29-17 two-score cushion the Texans couldn’t deal with.

“We had a package deal in, the 12 personnel the place me and Jack Stoll are on the identical aspect and it was actually based mostly on what the protection was going to present us as to what we have been going to do,” Goedert mentioned of the scoring march during which he had 4 receptions for 41 yards and a four-yard TD.

“They gave us a number of man to man and we knew we had good matchups there in the event that they did that. It was only a nice scheme. We put it on this week. Coaches did an excellent job getting us prepared for it and we did an excellent of executing it. It was enjoyable.”

Enjoyable sufficient to maintain the Eagles because the NFL’s solely unbeaten staff and get to 8-0 for the primary time within the franchise’s 89 years historical past.

“Successful this sport was enormous for us,” mentioned Goedert. “We knew it will be a bodily sport, a brief week like this and a staff just like the Texans are going to return out swinging for positive, play bodily and hope they will get us down and run away with it.

“We have been capable of persevere.”

-John McMullen contributes Eagles protection for SI.com’s Eagles Right this moment and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You’ll be able to hearken to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody each morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming dwell on YouTube. John can be the host of his personal present “Extending the Play” on AM1490 in South Jersey. You’ll be able to attain him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen