DeSean Jackson burns Eagles again, doesn't dismiss return to Philadelphia

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Approaching three years since his release from the Eagles, DeSean Jackson's annual return to Philadelphia is just another game on the schedule at this point. That being said, there was something slightly different about his most recent visit to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.

Eagles fans didn't boo when Jackson took the field.

"That's interesting," Jackson said. "First time ever."

What remained unchanged was Jackson's continuing to haunt the Eagles, finishing Sunday with three receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown in Washington's 27-22 win (see Instant Replay). It marked the third time in five meetings that the three-time Pro Bowler went over the century mark in yardage against his former team.

It was also the second time in three trips to the Linc that Jackson hauled in a touchdown pass of 80 yards or more — although he swears doing it against the Eagles in their own building holds no special significance.

"I wish I could do it every game," Jackson said. "It's not only when I come back to Philly."

"It's been fortunate that I've been able to come back and make some plays against my former team, but regardless of who it's against, I enjoy doing that."

Jackson's 80-yard catch-and-run was art in motion, the kind of majestic grab down the field he used to make on a routine basis for the Eagles for six seasons from 2008-13. The 30-year-old wideout got a step on his man, made an extremely difficult catch over his back shoulder, then slipped the tackle and basically walked into the end zone (see Roob's 10 observations from the loss).

What's more, the Redskins were supremely confident the play would work. Trailing 13-7 at halftime, Jackson revealed that they drew up the play in the locker room, and as soon as the Washington offense got the look it wanted from the Eagles defense, it executed.

"We actually talked about that in the locker room at halftime, that they were playing a lot of corners coverage, which is two-high safeties and the corner kind of off," Jackson said. "Usually when we have that, it's a combination route where (Redskins receiver Jamison Crowder) runs to the flat and pulls down the safety, and I kind of take a wide spread and go to the post.

"We knew we were going to get that coverage. We dialed it up at halftime. We said when come out, we're going to run it. I think it was a play or two, and then we got right to it. They gave us what we needed, I saw (Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins) throw out a ball, I had to adjust to a little bit, made an adjustment and I think everything else speaks for itself."

There was nothing "little" about the adjustment Jackson made on the ball, either. Cousins and Redskins coach Jay Gruden were both amazed by Jackson's ability to locate the football and hold on.

"It was a pretty special play by him," Cousins said.

"He has a few elite traits, and one of them is that ability to track the ball in the air, that if it's not an easy catch, he can go find it and track that ball in the air better than most all receivers, and certainly better than most defensive backs. That's tough to defend when you're running with him stride for stride, trying to run full speed, then you also have top find the football, then you also have to play the ball."

"DeSean would've been a world-class center fielder," Gruden said. "He adjusts to the ball like no other. You just put it up in the air where he can see it and find it and he'll get it."

The importance of that play, which gave Washington a 14-13 lead and momentum on their first possession of the second half, was not lost on Jackson.

"That play was huge in the game," Jackson said. "We were down, it put us up, and we needed that."

Washington's record against the Eagles is now 4-1 in games Jackson has played. After Sunday's game, he's averaging 88.0 yards per contest and a whopping 22.0 yards per reception against his ex-mates, with two touchdowns and long gains of 81, 80 and 55.

Again, Jackson was less worried about the damage he's done to the Eagles and more concerned with the big picture. The win moves Washington to 7-5-1 and within striking distance of the NFC's sixth and final playoff berth.

"Anytime you play in the NFL, you always want to win, regardless of who you're playing for, who you're playing against," Jackson said. "That's our job, to work hard throughout the week, and this is the fun part, coming out here on Sundays, or Thursdays or Mondays and trying to win a football game.

"The outcome of the game definitely was important. If we even want to think about playoffs or talk about playoffs, we had to win this game first."

Still, while Jackson is focused on doing what he can, he couldn't help but notice a stark contrast of the Eagles' home crowd in 2016 compared to the past two seasons.

Maybe that's because this time, unlike his previous two trips to the Linc, the Eagles haven't been competitive and the crowd wasn't as fired up. Or perhaps it's the fans' desire for a star receiver in Philadelphia, or more talent at the position in general, an area Jackson could help as an impending free agent in 2017.

Whatever the case, Jackson was pleased.

"Who wants to get booed," Jackson asked. "Especially all you've done and you started your career somewhere. You definitely don't want to get booed, but it's always great to get support no matter who it's coming from."

As for the possibility of returning to the Eagles in the offseason, Jackson has been asked frequently throughout the year, even by an inquisitive security guard before kickoff on Sunday. This time, in the midst of a playoff race, he could only laugh — although he didn't dismiss it.

"You never know," Jackson said.

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