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          NFL Nation

          Watch: Darren Sproles breaks loose for 37-yard TD catch

          • Tim McManus, ESPN Staff WriterDec 23, 2018, 06:34 PM
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              Tim McManus covers the Philadelphia Eagles for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2016 after covering the Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine's Birds 24/7, a site he helped create, since 2010. You can follow him on Twitter @Tim_McManus.
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          PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson went for it on 4th-and-2 on the team's first possession against the Houston Texans -- because of course he did -- and it paid off in a big way.

          Nick Foles found Darren Sproles in the flat, and the 35-year-old back slipped past the first would-be-tackler before bullying through safety Justin Reid for a 37-yard touchdown to give the Eagles an early 7-0 lead Houston in a game that could decide their playoff fate. Driven by analytics, Pederson is one of the most aggressive coaches in the league when it comes to going for it on fourth down. The Eagles ranked second in that category last season and are tied for sixth this year (18 attempts).