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PHILADELPHIA - Eagles coach Andy Reid figured six years was long enough to wait before trying to start another game with an onside kick.

He was wrong.

The decision to do it against Washington on Sunday backfired and nearly cost him a victory. The Redskins recovered the kick and went on to score a touchdown before the Eagles rallied for a 27-24 win.

"I could shoot myself in the foot (for attempting it)," Reid said. "I wanted to stay aggressive and I thought we could sneak one in there. Although it looked that way, we didn't just pull it out of the sky. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't."

The Eagles had tried it two previous times under Reid. They opened the 2000 season at Dallas with an onside kick, recovered it and scored en route to a 41-14 victory. Three years later, they tried it again against the Cowboys. That time, the Cowboys' Randal Williams returned it 37 yards for a touchdown in a 23-21 Eagles loss.

Place-kicker David Akers said afterward Sunday that the situation was perfect to try it again. The Eagles had five players lined up to Akers' right to the Redskins' two.

"Those are pretty good odds," Akers said. "The play was wide open. It was a lock. We had Sean Jones and Chris Gocong in the perfect position to recover it. It would have worked except the ball hit (linebacker) Joe Mays and that changed the trajectory."

DeSean Jackson hurt

The Eagles lost their most dynamic offensive player in the third quarter when wide receiver/returner DeSean Jackson was forced to leave the game with a concussion.

Jackson caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Donovan McNabb in the first quarter, the receiver's eighth TD of the season, and added a 29-yard punt return a few minutes later.

The second-year standout got hurt when he caught a short pass over the middle on the Eagles' second series of the third quarter and was hit by cornerback Justin Tryon.

Jackson is the second Eagle to suffer a concussion this season. Running back Brian Westbrook sat out Sunday's game after incurring his second one two weeks ago at San Diego. He was also knocked unconscious at Washington on Oct. 26.

"(Jackson's concussion) wasn't quite like the one where (Westbrook) was knocked out," Reid said. "We'll just have to see how he does this week. We'll do some tests and evaluate him."

Jackson has eight touchdowns of 35 yards or more this season. According to the Eagles, that is the most by any player in the NFL through 11 games since 1970.

Up-and-down defense

The Eagles' defense was inconsistent. The Redskins converted 8 of 17 third-down plays (47 percent). Washington's Jason Campbell threw two touchdown passes to go with his TD run.

But the Eagles countered with two interceptions by cornerback Asante Samuel. He now has seven on the season, the most by an Eagles defender since cornerback Troy Vincent had seven in 1999. Bill Bradley holds the franchise record with 11 in 1971.

The unit also held the Redskins scoreless on their final two possessions, which enabled the Eagles to earn their second straight come-from-behind win.

"The third-down defense hurt us," Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said. "But I thought the guys did a good job of staying within themselves and staying poised down the stretch."

Lineup changes

Outside linebacker Akeem Jordan (hyperxtended knee) missed his third straight game, thereby forcing McDermott to shuffle his lineup again. Will Witherspoon, who played middle linebacker against the Redskins earlier this season, started again in Jordan's spot at weakside linebacker. Jeremiah Trotter started in the middle for the second straight week and alternated with Mays.

Linebacker Tracy White saw a lot of playing time at weakside linebacker in passing situations.

Inside the numbers

Akers had made 16 straight field goals. His team record is 17 in a row, which he reached in 2001. ... The Eagles have earned back-to-back fourth-quarter comebacks for the first time since they beat the New York Giants (14-10) and Jets (24-17) in 2003. ... McNabb played in his 143rd game, passing Ron Jaworski for most games played among quarterbacks for the Eagles.

Out of action

Guard Stacy Andrews was a healthy scratch for the second straight game after starting against San Diego two weeks ago. In addition to Jordan and Westbrook, other inactives included wide receiver Kevin Curtis, running back P.J. Hill, center Mike McGlynn and cornerback Geoffrey Pope.

Bumps and bruises

Besides Jackson, defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley limped off the field in the third quarter with a sprained ankle. He got it taped on the sideline and eventually returned in the fourth quarter.

Tight end Brent Celek sprained his thumb. The team said X-rays were negative.

Up ahead

Eagles backup quarterback Michael Vick will return to Atlanta for the first time next Sunday when the Eagles take on the Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Vick spent his first six seasons (2001-06) with Atlanta before being convicted on dogfighting-related charges and serving 18 months in federal prison.

The Eagles lead the series 15-11-1. They will make their first trip to Atlanta since 2005.

The Falcons beat Tampa Bay 20-17 on Sunday to improve to 6-5.

Contact David Weinberg:

609-272-7186

DWeinberg@pressofac.com

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