DeSean Jackson scored two big-play touchdowns in the first half to spark the Philadelphia Eagles to a 27-17 win over the struggling Washington Redskins on Monday.
The wide receiver tallied 167 total yards and two scores as the Eagles (4-2) overpowered the Redskins with an early blitz.
Jackson scampered for a 67-yard touchdown on the game’s first possession and also caught a 57-yard pass from Donovan McNabb two minutes before halftime.
“You just want to put the ball in his hands because he’s explosive,” said McNabb, who recorded his 200th career touchdown pass while reaching the 30,000 career passing yards milestone in the win.
“A couple of times I tried to force the ball to him. I think at the end [of the season] we might have the most complete team I’ve ever been a part of,” McNabb said.
Newly acquired linebacker Will Witherspoon, picked up in a trade with the St Louis Rams last week, returned an interception nine yards to put Philadelphia on top 14-0 in the first quarter.
He also had a sack and forced fumble as the Eagles moved within one half-game of the NFC East Division lead as Washington slipped to 2-5.
Playing for the first time since head coach Jim Zorn was stripped of play-calling duties, which were taken over by assistant Sherm Lewis, the Redskins committed four turnovers in their third successive loss.
Redskins’ quarterback Jason Campbell threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, including a one-yard TD to Fred Davis to cap the scoring with 1:38 to go.
Washington also had a first-and-goal with nine minutes remaining but fumbled the possession away.
In the first half, the Redskins capped an eight-play drive with Devin Thomas’ two-yard touchdown run to make it 17-7 with eight minutes remaining in the first half.
But a mishandled punt return led to one of David Akers’ two field goals for Philadelphia, and Jackson’s catch put Washington well behind, trailing 27-10 at halftime.
“I wish the game would’ve been closer earlier,” Zorn told reporters. “We did some good things and finished some drives.”
■49ERS REPLACE HILL
REUTERS, SAN FRANCISCO
Alex Smith will take over as San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback from Shaun Hill, head coach Mike Singletary told reporters on Monday.
The 49ers lost to the Houston Texans on Sunday despite a rally led by Smith, who replaced Hill at half-time.
The offense made just 50 yards in the first half with Hill at the helm but with Smith in charge they made 247 total yards with the quarterback throwing for 206 yards and three touchdowns.
Singletary said Smith would start against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday and hinted he could get a longer run in the role.
“As far as this upcoming week, in terms of quarterback, Alex Smith will be the quarterback,” Singletary said. “As far as ‘Will Shaun Hill be back?’ and all this other stuff ... we’re not going to be a flavor of the month kind of team. I wanted to make the decision based on who gives us the best chance to win.”
Smith, the first pick in the 2005 draft, missed last season with a shoulder injury and Hill took the starting role from J.T. O’Sullivan.
■DALLAS RE-SIGN WARE
REUTERS, DALLAS
The Dallas Cowboys have signed linebacker DeMarcus Ware to a six-year contract extension, the team said on Monday.
The Cowboys did not disclose financial details, though local media said Ware would receive a guaranteed US$40 million for the contract that will keep him with the team until 2015.
“This is a Cowboy, for all practical purposes, for the rest of his days,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said at a news conference to announce the agreement.
The 27-year-old, who led the NFL in sacks last year, was the 11th pick in the 2005 draft out of Troy University.
“I feel I have worked really hard and am deserving of what they have given me,” said Ware, who has had four sacks in the last two games.
Jones said the deal had been agreed “with a handshake” before Sunday’s 37-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
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