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It took nearly the entire first half but it finally clicked for the Eagles. Carson Wentz hit DeSean Jackson for a 51-yard touchdown with 4:19 left in the second quarter to put Philly on the board en route to a 32-27 victory.
Wentz dropped back and let it fly to his top deep threat who zoomed in for six points. It was Jackson’s first score since returning to Philadelphia after the Eagles brought him back from a five-year exile in the offseason. The speedy receiver flapped his arms like eagles wings in delight as a raucous sold-out crowd of 70,000 went nuts.
Jackson’s touchdown cut the deficit to 17-7 in a game that hadn’t gone as the Eagles drew it up. The team opened as 10-point favorites on the betting line but found themselves down 17-0 to start the contest. At one point, the Philly faithful rained down boos on the team after another failed third-down conversion.
The Eagles turned it around in the second half, reeling off 25 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarter. Wentz finished 29-for-39 for 313 passing yards and three touchdowns. Darren Sproles led the team in rushing with nine carries for 47 yards. Rookie Miles Sanders was the bellciw with 11 carries for 25 yards. He had a touchdown called back due to a holding call.
The determination of @DarrenSproles on this two-point conversion 💪💪
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The Eagles started slow and rusty. Perhaps the fact they rested their starters for the duration of the preseason played a factor. Wentz and the offense looked completely out of sync. The Eagles quarterback was 10-for-15 for 56 yards before the touchdown strike to Jackson. The Eagles were trailing the Redskins 17-7. Then, this happened.
WELCOME HOME DESEAN JACKSON 😤😤 @DeSeanJackson11
DeSean Jackson Scores Second Touchdown
Apparently, DeSean Jackson was just getting warmed up. He really, really likes being back in Philly. In his first game back as an Eagle, Jackson had eight catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns. His two receiving touchdowns raised his Eagles franchise total to 34, tied with Calvin Williams for eighth-most. His 154 receiving yards are the seventh-highest in a single game for his career and he now has 37 career games with at least 100 yards.
He’s baaaaack.
His second score came on a beautiful pass from Carson Wentz, a 53-yard bomb. The first one went for 51 yards. The reunion has been glorious. Jackson is now approaching career numbers in his first game back.
DeSean Jackson’s career highs entering this game…
Catches: 10 (2013 at MIN)
Receiving yards: 210 (2010 at DAL)
Receiving TDs: 2 (2x)
He’s at eight catches for 154 yards, 2 TDs with one quarter to go.
After Jackson’s second touchdown, Alshon Jefferey ran one in on a pitch from Wentz. Then, Darren Sproles put a spinning juke move on to convert the two-pointer.
Something ‘Special’ Happening in Philly
Wentz has been nothing but complimentary when talking about one of his newest teammates, for both his skill on the field and his leadership off it. The quarterback has never been in a huddle with a player as fast as Jackson, and he’s making the most of it. Wentz has described the speedy receiver as “awesome” and a “great teammate” on multiple occasions.
Carson Wentz to DeSean to start drills.
“He’s awesome,” Wentz told reporters, via ESPN. “He’s so far been a great teammate. Comes in, works hard. Obviously, I’ve learned he’s pretty fast. He’s a pretty smooth runner. People might say he’s getting up there in age, but he can still go. So I’m excited to just keep building that chemistry with him both on the field and off the field. He’s a great teammate, and I think we’re going to do something special with him.”
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Eagles 32, Redskins 27: DeSean Jackson Amazing in Homecoming [WATCH]