Eagles fight their way past Redskins

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Nick Foles sprawled on the turf with ribs aching after a hit he never saw coming. Jason Peters picked a fight with the instigator, and defending his quarterback turned into a multi-player melee on the Washington Redskins sideline that resulted in two ejections.

The game was tied in the fourth quarter, and the commotion became widespread. No one knew who would have the ball, or who would play quarterback for the Eagles, or whether the star left tackle would stay in the game.

During a Sunday afternoon that already featured the drama of DeSean Jackson’s return to Philadelphia, the intensity of the Eagles’ 37-34 win over Washington was unlike any other game that some Eagles had ever experienced.

“It was a fight,” Foles said. “Literally, there were fights during the game.”

Foles shook off the injury and stood in front of an offense with a line decimated by injuries; he was determined to make Washington pay for what had just happened. He led the Eagles to a go-ahead score.

In a game that included offensive fireworks, critical injuries, and high-profile ejections, the Eagles improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2004. They will put their record on the line next week on the road against the San Francisco 49ers.

“Our whole motto when we talk about it all the time is ‘one down, one to go,’ ” coach Chip Kelly said. “We’re fortunate right now to be 3-0.”

Foles played his best game of the season, finishing 28 of 42 for 325 yards and three touchdowns. His top target was Jeremy Maclin, who had eight catches for 154 yards and a touchdown. The performance trumped that of Jackson, who still was stellar with five catches for 117 yards and an 81-yard touchdown reception.

Jackson raced past the defense – just as he did in an Eagles uniform for six seasons – and danced his way into the end zone to tie the game at 27 at the end of the third quarter. With boos raining down on him, Jackson flapped wings to mock the Eagles, who unceremoniously released him in March.

“I’m just out there playing the game with a lot of energy and a lot of excitement,” Jackson said. “We will get another game against them down the road.”

The score set up a wild final quarter. After Washington missed a 33-yard field goal that would have given it a lead, Foles threw what initially was ruled an interception by Bashaud Breeland. On the return, Washington defensive lineman Chris Baker barreled into Foles with an illegal block.

Enraged by what the Eagles considered a “cheap shot,” Peters started a fight with Baker. The tussle spilled onto Washington’s sideline, where security personnel had to break it up. Peters and Baker were ejected.

“The guy just cheap-shotted Nick Foles, and I reacted,” Peters said. “I shouldn’t have done what I did, but I was just trying to protect my quarterback.”

Kelly said he did not see the fight. He was busy trying to determine whether it was an interception (it wasn’t) and whether Foles would need to miss a play to return to the game (he didn’t).

“And then all of a sudden a hockey game broke out,” Kelly said.

Peters’ ejection came after center Jason Kelce left the game with an abdominal injury. With Peters and Kelce missing – and Evan Mathis and Allen Barbre already sidelined – the Eagles’ offensive line needed further shuffling with only one starter remaining.

That’s when Foles rallied the Eagles, connecting with Maclin on a 27-yard touchdown pass to give the Eagles a 34-27 lead. It was Foles’ third touchdown pass; he twice found Jordan Matthews in the end zone in the first half. The 76-yard drive revealed toughness that Kelly has lauded since arriving in Philadelphia, and the coach labeled his quarterback a “tough sucker” on Sunday.

“From the way he looked on the ground, for him to get up and get back in the game, he is unmatched,” said center David Molk, who replaced Kelce. “Anyone else I ever played with would be gone. They’re out of the game. That’s a strong, tough man. That’s a guy you want to play with.”

Rookie kicker Cody Parkey nailed a 51-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 37-27 lead after safety Malcolm Jenkins’ second interception of the season. Washington pulled within three points and had a chance to win the game in the final minutes, but the Eagles defense preserved the win.

“We live to fight another day,” cornerback Cary Williams said.

Another day could be Dec. 20. That’s the Eagles-Redskins rematch Jackson already awaits.