PHILADELPHIA — Quarterback Nick Foles ran back onto the field after a hard shot knocked him out for a play and the crowd roared, seemingly knowing he was about to do it again.

Jake Elliott kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired after Foles led the offense into position and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Houston Texans 32-30 to keep their playoff hopes alive Sunday.

“Foles was so confident and everyone was so calm,” said Zach Ertz, who set a single-season record for receptions for a tight end. “No one flinched. Guys stuck together.”

The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (8-7) need a win at Washington (7-8) next week. Plus they need Minnesota (8-6-1) to lose or tie, or Seattle (8-6) to lose twice or lose once and tie to get a wild-card berth.

The Texans (10-5) missed an opportunity to clinch the AFC South and also allowed New England (10-5) to take control of the No. 2 seed. The Texans would secure the division title with a victory over Jacksonville next week. They would get a first-round bye with a win and the Patriots lose or tie.

“I’ll put that on my shoulders,” Houston defensive end J.J. Watt said. “The offense did a great job giving us a chance and we just didn’t get a stop at the end.”

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Filling in for the injured Carson Wentz for the second straight week, Foles again played like the Super Bowl MVP who led Philadelphia to a victory over New England.

“We stuck together through the ups and downs,” said Foles, who choked up when asked about possibly playing his last game in Philadelphia.

Deshaun Watson had two TD passes and ran for two scores.

Watson threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Vyncint Smith with 2:04 remaining as Houston rallied from a 13-point deficit.

But Foles brought Philadelphia back.

Foles was injured on a late hit by Jadeveon Clowney while completing a 19-yard pass to Alshon Jeffery to the Texans 30 on third-and-10. Nate Sudfeld came in and threw an incomplete pass, but Foles then returned. His 20-yard pass to Ertz on third-and-10 put the Eagles at the Houston 35.

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The Eagles ran the clock down and Elliott made the kick after missing an extra point earlier in the quarter.

“When it ends a game, you get to enjoy it a little bit longer,” Elliott said.

Watson threw a 14-yard TD to DeAndre Hopkins to cut the deficit to 29-23 with 4:48 left and the Texans got the ball back at their 20 after a three-and-out.

Watson made an incredible escape on third-and-11 and threw 22 yards to Jordan Akins for a first down at the Philadelphia 34.

On third-and-11, he hit Smith deep in the back of the end zone. Smith made an outstanding catch and dragged his feet to stay in.

Foles connected with Nelson Agholor on an 83-yard TD in the third quarter to give the Eagles a 23-16 lead. Foles fired a deep pass that Agholor caught in stride at the Texans’ 30 and ran untouched to the end zone, stopping at the 1 and falling in backward.

The Texans had a first down at the Eagles’ 31 on the ensuing drive but Chris Long sacked Watson, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Fletcher Cox and returned to the Houston 49.

Foles then connected with Ertz on a 23-yard TD.

Ertz had 12 catches to break Jason Witten’s record. Ertz has 113. Witten had 110 for Dallas in 2012.


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