No bingo for DC: Eagles roll, beat Redskins 27-17

[October 27, 2009]  LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- Sherm Lewis might want to go back to bingo. Or, better yet, he might want to apply for a job as the Philadelphia Eagles' play caller -- it's a much easier job with someone such as DeSean Jackson on your side.

Jackson scored on a 67-yard reverse and caught a 57-yard touchdown pass in the first half, and the Eagles converted three turnovers into points Monday night in a 27-17 win over the Washington Redskins.

Nearly all the scoring came in the first half of an injury-filled game -- Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook (concussion) and Washington's Chris Cooley (right ankle) left early and didn't return. The win got the Eagles (4-2) back to form after last week's jarring loss to the Oakland Raiders.

Donovan McNabb completed 15 of 25 passes for 156 yards, getting his 200th touchdown pass and surpassing 30,000 yards passing for his career. The defense sacked Jason Campbell six times, and newcomer Will Witherspoon ran back an interception for a touchdown and created another turnover even though he's been with the team for only a week.

Offensive consultant Lewis has been with the Redskins (2-5) for only three weeks after being lured out of a retirement consisting of bingo-calling and Meals on Wheels -- and his first try at calling the plays proved as unsuccessful as when head coach Jim Zorn was handling the task.

Zorn was stripped of the duty by the front office after last week's loss to Kansas City, causing so much consternation that the front office then felt the need to announce that Zorn won't be fired anytime soon.

It made no difference. The makeshift offensive line again failed to protect Campbell or create room for Clinton Portis, who rushed for only 43 yards and at one point chucked his helmet on the sideline in frustration.

Campbell finished 29 for 43 for 284 yards and two touchdowns for the Redskins, who have yet to score more than 17 points in a game this season. Campbell threw his seventh interception of the season, one more than he had all last season.

Washington trailed 27-10 at halftime, and Campbell's consolation touchdown pass to Fred Davis in the final two minutes was the only scoring in the second half.

Jackson scored his first touchdown on the fourth play from scrimmage, scampering down the left sideline untouched almost all the way thanks in part to downfield blocking from Jeremy Maclin. It was the longest Philadelphia run of the season by far -- the team's previous best was 25 yards.

Jackson got his second score when he put on a double move on Carlos Rogers and got wide open down the left side, turning a third-and-22 at the Philadelphia 43 into six points in the final two minutes of the first half.

Jackson also had a 29-yard punt return and played the second half with a right foot injury that required X-rays at halftime.

Witherspoon, acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Rams on Tuesday, started at middle linebacker because of Omar Gaither's season-ending foot injury. The new guy returned an interception 9 yards for a touchdown and knocked the ball away from Campbell for a fumble that set up a field goal. Safety Quintin Mikell helped with both turnovers, blitzing to tip the pass that Witherspoon picked off, and recovering the fumble after Campbell was stripped.

No fewer than seven injuries were announced during the game. Some were minor, but both teams lost a major offensive cog early on.

Westbrook was hurt when his helmet collided with linebacker London Fletcher's right knee at the end of a 5-yard run. The running back remained on the ground for several minutes before he was helped up and led off the field directly to the locker room.

Cooley, who caught passes on the Redskins' first two offensive plays, was hurt on the first play of the second quarter. He walked to the sideline, but was later carted off to the locker room.

[Associated Press; By JOSEPH WHITE]

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