Hurts missed a touchdown in a forgettable first half and the game was tied at halftime. But CJ Gardner-Johnson grabbed his NFL-best and career-best fifth interception before Hurts threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to AJ Brown to give the Eagles the lead in the third quarter. Houston (1-6-1) added a field goal after that, but another sack by Hurts and his 2-point conversion extended the lead to 29-17 early in the fourth. The Texans were leading late in the fourth when Davis Mills was intercepted again, this time by James Bradbury, and the Eagles ran out the clock to secure the victory. At the same time the Houston Astros were in Philadelphia playing the Phillies in Game 5 of the World Series, Hurts played his first career game at NRG Stadium. Hurts, who was born in Houston and grew up about 25 miles from the stadium, continued his steady play on his way back to win his 11th straight regular season game, the longest active streak in the NFL. Mills threw for 154 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, playing without his top two receivers. Brandin Cooks sat out practice all week after trade rumors never materialized and Nico Collins missed the game with a groin injury. Houston rookie Dameon Pierce rushed for a career-high 139 yards to bounce back from a rough game last week when he gained just 35 yards on 15 carries. Gardner-Johnson caught an interception for the fourth straight game when he picked off Mills with about 8 minutes left in the third quarter and returned it 25 yards. The Eagles won the turnover two plays later when Hurts found Brown for the score to make it 21-14 with about 8 minutes left in the third. Houston cut the lead to 21-17 on a 30-yard field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn late in the third. Hurts found Dallas Goedert for a four-yard TD pass on the next drive, and Hurts opened the lead with his two-point conversion run. The Texans took an early lead when rookie Teagan Quitoriano, making his NFL debut, hauled in his first career reception for a two-yard touchdown on the opening drive. Kittoriano is a fifth-round pick who missed the entire season with a knee injury. That score was set up by a 34-yard reception by Phillip Dorsett two plays earlier. Philadelphia tied the game at 7-all on a two-yard run by Miles Sanders on fourth down late in the first quarter. Sanders finished with 93 yards rushing. The Eagles led early in the second quarter when Hurts was sacked by Steven Nelson, who forced a fumble recovered by Jaleel Johnson at the Houston 35. Houston couldn’t move the ball and had to punt. Philadelphia then put together a 10-play, 79-yard drive that was capped by a four-yard TD run by Kenneth Gainwell to take a 14–7 lead. The Texans tied the score less than a minute before halftime when Mills connected with Chris Moore on a 13-yard pass. The project was initially fully judged, but was revised and the call reversed. Philadelphia attempted a 54-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, but it sailed wide.
