Houston notched their tenth victory of the season in Week 15 against a game, but ultimately out-gunned, Jets team with nothing but pride to play for.
Philadelphia is fighting for their pride, too. But they also have a playoff game just beyond their grasp that only a win will keep them in sight of.
After being all but written off after a loss to Dallas, the Eagles went out and upset the Los Angeles Rams behind backup quarterback Nick Foles. Not only did they put some uncertainty in the NFC playoff seeding, but a Cowboys loss put the Eagles within a game of Dallas in the NFC East.
A Seattle loss puts the first wild card slot within a game, too. The Vikings are sitting a half-game ahead of the Eagles in the second spot. If they can get past the Texans, Philadelphia finishes the season with a game against the Redskins.
Minnesota’s schedule includes the Bears. The Seahawks play the Chiefs this week, meaning Eagles fans can dream of defending their Super Bowl championship after all. They will be out in full force this weekend.
New England’s loss in Pittsburgh last week thrust the Texans into the number 2 seed in the AFC. If Houston can win out, they are assured of a first-week bye and a home game in round two of the playoffs.
Houston had high hopes of a playoff berth and even a division title, but keeping the Patriots in a wildcard situation should be plenty of motivation to win out.
Injuries and notes
Lamar Miller missed much of last week’s game after rolling an ankle. The team could do nothing on the ground after that. Miller is questionable for Sunday, as is D’Onta Freeman who is still to be activated but is practicing with the team after coming off the injured reserve with his Achilles injury.
Keke Coutee remains questionable with a lingering hamstring issue.
Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz will not be put on injured reserve, but he will sit out Sunday’s game in favor of Nick Foles.
Rookie rusher Josh Adams was in and out of the Rams game to get his back worked on. He is questionable for this week. If he plays, the Eagles combination of runners could be adjusted to save some wear and tear.
Coaching matchup
If Doug Pederson’s troops land in the playoffs, it would only take a wild-card win and a good second game to elevate his favorite son status in Philadelphia. Fans have been giving him a bye all season as injuries mounted, but recovering to grab a playoff spot will make for some unreal expectations in seasons to come.
Bill O’Brien is as big a hero in Houston as Pederson is in Philadelphia, even though he hasn’t won anything yet. A division title is nice. A first-round bye is great. But there are bigger things O’Brien needs to accomplish if he is going to be satisfied with this season.
How to watch the Eagles-Texans game
Every part of the country that does not have a local team playing at the same time on CBS will be able to watch the defending champions battle with the upstart Texans.
In fact, they could watch for free if they sing up for a no-obligation trial with Fubo TV. Fubo TV, like other internet TV providers, offers tons of NFL and other sports, movies, and entertainment options on dozens of channels delivered to your favorite Internet-connected device.
All the best networks and movie channels are included in a low-cost, monthly subscription that you can cancel without penalty any time you want.
Not only will you pay way less for Fubo, DirecTV Now, or Sling, but you won’t have to put unsightly equipment on your house or find yourself locked into an expensive contract.
Check out the websites of Fubo, Sling, and DirecTV Now to see what they offer in your neighborhood.
Read More : NFL Week 17 Game Preview: Jaguars at Texans
Who will win the Eagles-Texans game?
Houston is in the catbird seat with only victories against the Eagles and Jaguars, both playing with backup quarterbacks, needed to put them into the playoffs on a high note.
But the Eagles are a desperate team with the best backup passer in the league and fans that will do their best to rattle the Texans.
Final score:
