The other big setback is a little less infamous, maybe because it didn't produce as memorable a YouTube clip, or because it ended up not being nearly as big a deal as it seemed to be at the time. That would be last Dec. 21, the Eagles at the Redskins, the Birds' most recent visit to FedEx Field, where they will return tonight. The Eagles controlled their playoff destiny - win their final two games, they were in. They came in having won three in a row since their implosion in Baltimore, the day of the halftime benching of Donovan McNabb.
But the Redskins put the Eagles back into their November mode, getting a lead and then benefiting from the way Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg get impatient with their running game whenever they're behind, even a little bit. The 10-3 Eagles loss looked a lot like last week's defeat by the Oakland Raiders - unbalanced Birds' offense can't get in rhythm and can't score a touchdown, even though the opponent's offense is borderline inept.
The defining play came with 57 seconds left, the Eagles straining for a tying TD. Jackson got behind corner DeAngelo Hall, reached out for a perfectly thrown McNabb touchdown pass - and dropped it.
Jackson has not had many such moments in his 21 regular-season games and three playoff appearances. He prides himself on toughness and focus, but the Redskins knocked him off his game that day - literally. They targeted the slightly built, 5-10, 175-pound rookie for hits, even away from the ball; safety LaRon Landry bruised Jackson's ribs in the third quarter. Unofficially, Jackson was charged with three of the seven drops that helped shut down the Birds' offense.
"It was dangerous to be a wide receiver out there for the Eagles," Redskins coach Jim Zorn chirped afterward.
