DeSean Jackson's return to Philadelphia was spoiled by his former team, as the Philadelphia Eagles held their ground late to defeat the Washington Redskins 37-34, winning their first NFC East game. Rookie receiver Jordan Matthews found the endzone twice along with veteran wide-out Jeremy Maclin, who added a touchdown of his own in the Eagles victory. Establishing the running game was an issue the Eagles could resolve at any point against the Redskins' defense, as All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy only rushed for 22 yards despite having 19 carries, and Darren Sproles rushed for 20 yards on two carries, but fumbled in the first quarter in what would be Philadelphia's only turnover in the game. 

The Redskins started the scoring fest off with an 82-yard touchdown drive on the first possession of the game, giving the Redskins a 7-0 lead on a Kirk Cousins pass to Darrel Young. On the ensuing kickoff, Chris Polk tied the contest up at seven all as he returned Tress Way's kick to the house for a 102-yard touchdown. Washington would have their way with the Eagles' defense midway into the second quarter, scoring twice on a Pierre Garcon touchdown pass and a Kai Forbath field goal. Philadelphia retained possession with 8:49 remaining left in the half, and the drive concluded with Nick Foles connecting with Jordan Matthews on a 11-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Eagles' deficit to three. Kirk Cousins manufacturing another scoring drive for the Redskins, marching Washington down the field and tacking on three points with another Kai Forbath field goal, extending their lead to six. However, the Nick Foles and Jordan Matthews duo found the endzone for the second time in the first half, and the Eagles took a 21-20 lead into the locker room.

Two Cody Parkey field goals on their first two offensive possessions gave Philadelphia a seven point lead, a lead that would quickly evaporate as Kirk Cousins found DeSean Jackson for an 81-yard touchdown on the Redskins' first offensive play after the second Parkey field goal, tying the game up at 27 all. The fourth quarter featured the highlight of the game, which ended in Washington's defensive end Chris Baker, and Philadelphia's left tackle Jason Peters being ejected. On what appeared to be a Nick Foles' interception, Baker clocked Foles on the return, leading to a brawl on the Washington sideline. After Bashaud Breeland, who was the one who appeared to pickoff Foles, was brought to the ground, Peters took a swing at Baker for his hit on Foles, leading to a team-wide brawl that concluded in Baker and Peters being ejected from the game, and the Foles interception being overturned after replay clearly showed the ball hitting the ground.

Following the chaos, Foles threaded the needle on a touchdown to Jeremy Maclin, and the Eagles retook the lead, 34-27. Cody Parkey would nail his third field goal on the day, this time connecting from 51 yards, putting the Eagles in soild shape up 10 with 5:55 remaining in the game. Washington would retaliate on their next drive, as Roy Helu ran the rock in to cut the Eagles' lead to three. Following an Eagles punt, the Redskins turned the ball over on downs, and that was all she wrote. Foles threw a 19-yard pass to James Casey, and took two kneels to seal the 37-34 victory for Philadelphia.

Game Notes

  • - The Eagles have started 3-0 for the first time since 2004, which was the year they went to the Super Bowl
  • - The Eagles are the first team in NFL history to allow 17 first-half points in each of their first three games and go on to win all three of those games
  • - Nick Foles is the 6th quarterback in NFL history to throw for 320 or more yards in each of the first three games of the season
  • - Eagles are 7th team in NFL history to trail after the first quarter of their first three games and win all three - Last was 1999 Patriots 
  • - Eagles WRs had 17 catches in the first two games; had 21 today

(All stats courtesy of Reuben Frank, CSN Philly)

Philadelphia travels to San Francisco to take on the 49ers in week four of the 2014 NFL season.