After two big wins against two divisional rivals, the Eagles were bound for a letdown. You can thank the good Lord that this week's opponent was the expansion Houston Texans. Texan's quarterback David Carr was chased all game long, but still threw 2 TD passes, both against all-pro Troy Vincent. Troy was later quoted as saying, "Sometimes you get the bear. Sometimes the bear gets you. Then sometimes the bear gets you and you still win by 18 points." That's how the game went all afternoon. Even if Vincent was victumized twice, it was really David Carr who was victum of circumstances. The Eagles' defense held Houston's passing game to 189 total net yards all game and they sacked Carr seven times. But it was Brian Dawkins' game to shine. Only days after Donovan McNabb signed the contract of a lifetime, it was Dawkins who had a very special game. He became the first player in NFL history to record a sack, recover a fumble, intercept a pass and catch a pass for a touchdown all in the same game. For his efforts, he was named NFC defensive player of the week. By the way, Donovan McNabb was named NFC player of the month for September.

In this first ever meeting between the Eagles and Texans, it was 2 special teams plays that figured heavily into victory for the Eagles. First off, with the Birds winning 20-7 and 11:33 left in the 3rd quarter, the Eagles were set to punt from their own territory. The snap went directly to Brian Mitchell who called for the audible with Brian Dawkins the primary receiver. On the play, Mitchell took the ball and rushed to his left. Just as the defense converged on him, he flipped a short little pass to Dawkins who ran away from the field for a 57-yard touchdown. Later on in the fourth quarter and the Eagles clinging to a 28-17, the Eagles were once again forced to punt. Sean Landetta booted the ball inside the 5-yard line where it appeared headed towards the endzone. Instead, it was rookie corner Sheldon Brown who grabbed the ball and flipped it back just as he was to cross the goal line. Ike Reese caught the ball, but his momentum was carrying him into the endzone also. But at the last possible second, he flipped it back to Julian Jones who was standing on the one yard line and he downed it right there. The Eagles defense stiffened and forced Houston into 3 plays and a punt. The Birds had a short field and quickly drove down the 57 yards for the game clinching TD and a 35-17 Eagles win.

But in the end, it was Donovan McNabb's play which led to a nice 38 yard pass to James Thrash with only 4:52 remaining in the 4th quarter to seal the deal. The Texans rush forced McNabb from the pocket. He ran to his right and found Thrash downfield for about 12 yards. But on the play, Thrash reversed fields as a wall of Eagle blockers led him on an end around to the left and straight into the endzone for the game's final points. The Eagles defense once again forced 3 turnovers on the day and now lead the entire NFl with 14 total. On offense, it was Duce Staley who led the Eagles attack with 62 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. He became the first Eagle rusher to have 2 rushing TD's since October 4, 1988. In that game, Charlie Garner had 2 TD's in the 4th quarter of a 41-16 loss to the Broncos in Denver.