The Philadelphia Eagles claimed the outright lead in the NFC East after a record-equaling performance from DeSean Jackson helped them to a 45-38 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday.
The Giants (7-6), who could have forged a three-way tie at the top of the NFC with a win, came back from a 30-17 halftime deficit to lead 31-30 with five minutes, 12 minutes left in the third quarter.
On Philadelphia’s next play from scrimmage, big-play weapon Jackson caught a 60-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Donovan McNabb, backpedaling untouched into the end zone to put the Eagles into a lead that they never relinquished.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Wide receiver and return man Jackson, who had earlier scored on a 72-yard punt return, tied an NFL record with his eighth touchdown of the season of 50 yards or more.
“DeSean was feeling it,” Eagles coach Andy Reid told reporters. “He was bugging me the whole time on the sidelines that he wanted the ball, in a good way. So we gave him the ball.”
The lightning-quick Jackson, a second-round draft pick last year from little known Long Beach Polytechnic, missed last week’s game because of a concussion.
PHOTO: AFP
“Sitting home last week was terrible,” he said. “I told everybody I’m going to come out strong.”
Jackson, who set up Michael Vick’s one-yard touchdown run at the end of the first half with a 44-yard catch on third-and-20, said competing on Sunday night was special.
“The world’s watching,” he said. “We know what rode on this game — a chance to take over the division.”
The victory lifted the Eagles to 9-4, one game ahead of the Dallas Cowboys (8-5), who were beaten at home 20-17 by the AFC West-leading San Diego Chargers.
The game, which gave the Eagles a fourth win in a row over the Giants, was full of big plays, missed tackles and turnovers.
McNabb completed 17-of-26 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Giants signal-caller Eli Manning was 27-of-38 for 391 yards and three scores.
Philadelphia defensive back Sheldon Brown ran back a fumble recovery 60 yards for a touchdown and Giants rookie receiver Hakeem Nicks spun away from two tacklers for a 68-yard touchdown, while Domenik Hixon shook free for a 61-yard touchdown reception.
“Disappointing loss [but] we still have a lot to play for,” said Giants coach Tom Coughlin, whose team are still in the hunt for a wild-card berth in the playoffs.
The Giants had scored two touchdowns after the intermission to seize the lead before McNabb’s electrifying connection with Jackson.
“That was a heck of a game, I’m proud of my guys,” Reid said, before commenting on Jackson’s performance with a shake of the head. “He’s pretty stinkin’ exciting. I’m glad he’s on our team.”
■ COLTS V BRONCOS
AFP, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
Peyton Manning tossed four touchdown passes to power Indianapolis past Denver 28-16 for the Colts’ record 22nd straight regular-season win.
The Colts (13-0) surpassed the previous record of 21 straight wins by New England, set from 2006 to last year.
Manning, who finished 20-of-42 for 220 yards, also passed Warren Moon for fourth place on the National Football League’s all-time list for career passing yards. He now has 49,533 yards.
“We kind of weathered the storm, and the defense did a great job,” Manning said. “Fortunately we finished on a high note.”
Indianapolis is also just the seventh team to start a season by winning their first 13 games.
The Colts were able to surpass the San Francisco 49ers’ NFL record for wins in a decade with their 114th since the start of 2000. The 49ers had 113 wins in the 1990s.
“That’s a lot of win in a decade,” said Manning, who had three interceptions. “When you think about how many games we have won that is a bunch and you appreciate all the hard work that has gone into those games.”
The Colts built up a 21-0 first half lead before Manning engineered a superb 14-play, 80-yard drive in the fourth. The drive ended with a touchdown pass to Dallas Clark.
Denver forced Manning to thrown an unusually high number of interceptions and receiver Brandon Marshall had an epic game by breaking the league’s single-game record with 21 receptions.
He finished with 200 yards and two touchdowns, tying the reception record on a five-yard catch with just under 10 minutes left in the game to make it 21-16. He broke the record on Denver’s last play of the game.
“I went to my receiving coach [Adam Gase] before the game and I told him: ‘I think this is going to be the best game I’ve ever played.’ Just because of the environment, the situation of playing the Colts,” Marshall said. “I believe big players step up in big games, and this was a big game for us.”
The Colts have already clinched the AFC South division and on Sunday they locked up homefield advantage throughout the post-season.
“We knew we needed this game to solidify home-field advantage in the playoffs, and that’s what we wanted,” linebacker Clint Session said. “We feel we’re our best in our home stadium, and we got the win.”
In other NFL play, it was:
• Saints 26, Falcons 23
• Vikings 30, Bengals 10
• Texans 34, Seahawks 7
• Packers 21, Bears 14
• Ravens 48, Lions 3
• Patriots 20, Panthers 10
• Bills 16, Chiefs 10
• Jets 26, Buccaneers 3
• Dolphins 14, Jaguars 10
• Chargers 20, Cowboys 17
• Titans 47, Rams 7
• Redskins 34, Raiders 13
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