Jackson Leads Eagles Past Washington, 27-17

Sports Editor LANDOVER, Md. -- How they would respond to one of the most stunning defeats of the Andy Reid years was the mystery surrounding the Eagles as they faced their first NFC East game of the season Monday night. They could, for example, prove beyond all doubt that they heard the wake-up call eight days ago in Oakland, by posting a solid prime-time victory over the disheveled, distracted Washington Redskins. Or they could find a way to fall to yet another team with major question marks at quarterback, on the sideline and in the front office. A team that, despite facing six straight winless opponents to open its season, was just 2-4 and averaging 13.2 points a game. There was still another possibility, of course -- that the Birds would neither dominate nor defer to the Redskins, but scrape by with a victory and a 4-2 record that would be considered at least somewhat misleading. To the measured delight of head coach Andy Reid, they went with Option A, riding big plays on both sides of the ball to a 27-17 decision at FedEx Field. So at 4-2, they and the Dallas Cowboys trail the division-leading Giants by half a game entering Sunday's collision with New York at the Linc. Reid, whose selection of just 12 running plays at Oakland came under heavy fire last week, gave Donovan McNabb a break Monday and dialed up 27 runs. Including several kneel-downs in the final minute, they netted 122 yards, the best of which came on DeSean Jackson's 67-yard end around for a 7-0 lead just four plays into the game. McNabb contributed by completing 15-of-25 throws for 156 yards, including a 58-yard TD hookup with Jackson late in the first half. It was McNabb's 200th career touchdown pass, and it put the Eagles firmly in control at 27-7. Newest Eagle Will Witherspoon, six days after he was acquired from St. Louis in the wake of Omar Gaither's season-ending Lisfranc foot injury, made an immediate impact at middle linebacker. With a minute left in the opening quarter, Quintin Mikell batted a Jason Campbell pass into the air and Witherspoon settled under it at the Washington 9, returning it untouched for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead. Only three plays later, Witherspoon and Mikell combined for another takeaway. Witherspoon stripped Campbell on a rollout and Mikell recovered at the Redskin 36. The Eagles cashed in with David Akers' 47-yard field goal for a 17-0 lead. Washington responded as Campbell (27-of-40 passing for 271 yards) led an eight-play, 45-yard drive capped by his two-yard TD throw to Devin Thomas with 8:00 left in the half. Meanwhile, the Eagle attack stalled after its fast start. But Washington helped out again as Antwaan Randle El muffed a punt at his own 25 and Sean Jones recovered. The Eagles went nowhere, but Akers connected for a 44-yard field goal with 4:08 left. Shaun Suisham's 47-yard field goal closed out a two-minute Redskins drive to end the half with the Eagles on top, 27-10. Washington closed the gap with 1:38 to play as Campbell found Fred Davis for a two-yard TD catch, wrapping up an 8-play, 46-yard drive. But when the ensuing onside kickoff failed to cover 10 yards, the Eagles took over for good. The Eagles' reprieve did not come without a price. Brian Westbrook, whose pleas for more running plays were answered, left the game for good with a concussion at the 7:03 mark of the first quarter. Westbrook's head met London Fletcher's right knee as he was tackled on his third carry of the game. LeSean McCoy, Westbrook's understudy, chipped in with 14 carries for 37 yards and 5 catches for another 30. The Eagles were bolstered on both sides of the line. In addition to Witherspoon, Todd Herremans saw his first action of the season after recovering from a stress fracture, starting at left guard. Starting left tackle Jason Peters, injured in Oakland, also returned and played all night. Notes: The Eagles notched 6 sacks of Campbell, with Trent Cole netting a pair. ... Reid listed Kevin Kolb as his third (i.e., emergency) quarterback, for the second straight game, although Kolb remains ahead of Michael Vick on the depth chart. ... Jeremy Maclin started at WR for the fifth straight game in place of Kevin Curtis, who has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is out indefinitely. ... Former Redskins and Eagles running back/return specialist Brian Mitchell was inducted into Washington's Ring of Fame before the game.