As the City of Philadelphia celebrates an Eagles victory, DeSean Jackson basks in the glow of his phenomenal homecoming to Lincoln Financial Field, as he caught eight passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns in the 32-27 come-from-behind win. Jackson's excitement for this game could not be matched as the three-time Pro Bowl selection admitted that there were jitters that came along with playing the first game back in midnight green since the 2013 season.
"Last night going to sleep and yesterday in meetings, the emotions were just racing," Jackson said. "I couldn't stay calm. I was over excited and like a kid before Christmas. I know the reunion of me coming back and what I mean to this city and what the city means to me in the green colors, and just being a part of this organization and family is just something special for me. Before the game, I was pretty calm and collected, but then I had the penalty and I got that out of the way and I was good."
Jackson was able to make his presence known on offense at the perfect time. The 12-year veteran wide receiver did not disappoint in his return to the team that drafted him, as he recorded two touchdowns of 50-plus yards, including the score that started the Eagles' comeback.
"I wasn't the intended receiver on that play," Jackson said of the 51-yard touchdown with 4:19 remaining in the first half to make it 17-7 Washington. "It was a clear route but Carson (Wentz) said stay alert. That play was actually intended for Alshon (Jeffery) on the deep cross route, but the way they played their coverage was like in and out. (Washington cornerback) Josh Norman was outside and I was inside the slot and he was supposed to be guarding Alshon, but when I went, he took me. The safety cut down on the route and threw the ball and I just ran at it. Great feeling."
For his second touchdown of the game, he caught a 53-yard pass over his shoulder from Carson Wentz and trotted into the right side of the end zone. The Wentz-to-Jackson connection is something everyone has been waiting for and it happened twice in spectacular fashion on Sunday.
"It felt great," Wentz said. "To have him out here creating the dynamic element that he does for our offense, and I know the city is pretty fired up to have him back here. To do that at home, I know means a lot for him; and for this team, to get us going the way he did was huge for us."
Jackson led both teams with a game-high 154 yards receiving and became just the fourth player in Eagles history to catch multiple 50-plus-yard touchdowns in a single game. It was Jackson's sixth career opening-day game with 100-plus receiving yards, which is tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin for the most such performances in NFL history. Jackson also surpassed Mike Quick for sole possession of eighth place on the Eagles' all-time receptions list.
While Jackson was providing a spark for the offense, the defense did not favor as well to start. The defense allowed 20 points in the first half. After an influential halftime speech from Jackson, the defense came out as a unit and only allowed seven points for the rest of the game, and those came after the Eagles took a double-digit lead late in the fourth quarter. Safety Malcolm Jenkins recalls what a big-time playmaker like Jackson can do for a team that is struggling.
"That obviously makes it a lot easier to claw back into a game, when we have a guy who can run through the defense and put up some points," Jenkins said. "Obviously, that was a big moment-shifter for us. I really think the game changed when we were able to run the ball down the field and open things up. We have a lot of weapons on offense at our disposable. On defense, we need to make sure we keep it within striking distance and all them the time and the freedom to work."
Take a look at the best photos from the Eagles' Week 1 matchup against Washington.
WRs DeSean Jackson and Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
S Rodney McLeod
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
CB Rasul Douglas
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
DT Tim Jernigan
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
RB Corey Clement
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
LB Nigel Bradham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
SWOOP bringing the fun
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
SWOOP celebrating NFL's 100th season
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
C Jason Kelce
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
T Jason Peters
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
RB Darren Sproles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
WR DeSean Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
LB Zach Brown
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
G Brandon Brooks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Head coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
G Brandon Brooks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
CB Rasul Douglas
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
DE Vinny Curry
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
WR DeSean Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
WR DeSean Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
WR DeSean Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
DT Tim Jernigan
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
DT Tim Jernigan
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
WR DeSean Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
WR DeSean Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
QB Carson Wentz and WR DeSean Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Challenger the Eagle's retirement ceremony
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
Challenger the Eagle's retirement ceremony
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
SWOOP
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
WRs Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
WR DeSean Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
WRs DeSean Jackson and Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
WRs DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
RB Darren Sproles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
RB Miles Sanders
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
RB Darren Sproles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
RB Miles Sanders
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
WR Alshon Jeffery and T Lane Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
WR DeSean Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
RB Darren Sproles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
RB Miles Sanders
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
RB Jordan Howard
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019
