The Philadelphia Eagles are on course to move 6-2 for the season, having taken a slender 17-14 lead into the halfway stage of their NFL clash with the Houston Texans this evening.

It was the Eagles who were first on the board as Nick Foles fired a deep pass down the middle of the field for Jeremy Maclin, who collected it to complete a 59-yard touchdown.

The Texans hit back before the opening quarter was out, however, as AJ Bouye picked off another long Foles pass and returned it 51 yards for a touchdown to level the scores.

There was more trouble for Foles at the start of the second quarter as he was sacked twice on one drive, the second of which forced him off the field to be replaced by Mark Sanchez.

The stand-in quarterback was quick to make an impact though, throwing a deep pass to Maclin for a 60-yard gain on his first play for the Eagles. He then picked out Jordan Matthews for an 11-yard score, giving him his first touchdown pass in almost two years.

Sanchez then threw an interception to give possession back to the Texans, however, and they took full advantage as Arian Foster collected a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass on the right touchline before diving into the corner of the endzone for a 56-yard score.

Philadelphia ensured that they would take the lead into the break with a late field goal, however, Cody Parker converting from 45 yards.