Nick Foles, Eagles show resolve to stay unbeaten

PHILADELPHIA — Kirk Cousins lit it up — until he came up short in the final minutes. DeSean Jackson returned to Philadelphia and had an 81-yard touchdown catch capped by a celebration reminiscent of his days as an Eagle.

But it was Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles who got up off the turf in the final quarter after being blasted with a blind side hit that triggered a brawl. Foles, who was battered throughout the afternoon, followed with a tiebreaking touchdown pass Sunday that sparked Philadelphia to a 37-34 victory over the Washington Redskins.

The Eagles move on with a 3-0 record to a game next Sunday at the San Francisco 49ers, who dropped to 1-2, that will be another test of whether they rank among top NFL contenders. The Redskins (1-2) quickly move to a Thursday night home game against the New York Giants, another gauge of whether Cousins can deliver as the replacement for injured quarterback Robert Griffin III.

"It was a fight. You all saw it. Literally, there were fights during the game," Foles said. "... Washington came out fighting, and we fought back. I'm glad we ended up on top. Guys kept fighting until the end."

Cousins, in his first start since Griffin went down with a dislocated ankle a week earlier, put up the bigger numbers: 30 completions in 48 attempts for 427 yards and three touchdowns. He led touchdown drives on his first two series. But he threw an interceptions and key incompletions at the finish.

"We always want to start fast and finish strong. I think we started fast today, but obviously we didn't finish as strong as we needed to," Cousins said.

Foles had his third 300-plus yard passing game of the season (28-of-42 for 325 yards and three touchdowns).

In two previous games, in which the Eagles started slowly, Foles completed most of his passes to running backs and tight ends. Sunday, wide receivers got involved. Jeremy Maclin had eight catches for 154 yards and a touchdown; rookie Jordan Matthews had eight catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns.

"I was trying to give our guys opportunities to make plays, and yeah, I did miss a couple of those throws in the previous two weeks," Foles said.

Cousins and Jackson didn't miss on an 81-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter that gave Washington a 27-27 tie.

Jackson, signed by the Redskins after he was abruptly cut by the Eagles last March, was iffy all week with a shoulder injury sustained against Jacksonville. After he was listed active for Sunday's first trip back to Philadelphia, he finished with five catches for 117 yards.

"He was a little sore. You could see the way he was running, he was holding his shoulder," said Redskins Coach Jay Gruden. "But I think he competed and played well."

On his long touchdown, Jackson ran backwards the last few yards into the end zone and waved his arms in a the "Fly Eagles Fly" touchdown dance.

"When I was an Eagle I kind of did a similar touchdown dance, kind of backpedaling into the end zone," Jackson said. "... When I get the opportunity to make plays, whatever comes to my mind that's what I'm going to react to."

If Jackson came in with a chip on his injured shoulder from being let go by Philadelphia, he wasn't saying.

"I'm just playing the game with a lot of energy and a lot of excitement. That's how I play the game, and I'll never change that," said Jackson, who was booed by Philadelphia after his first catch and got into some shoving a few plays later that led to a penalty against Eagles safety Nate Allen.

With the score 27-27, Foles apparently was intercepted by Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland in Philadelphia territory. On the play, Foles was knocked off his feet by a shoulder block from Redskins nose tackle Chris Baker. Foles never saw it coming.

Eagles tackle Jason Peters went after Baker. A brawl ensued with a swarm of players from both sides along the Washington bench area. Baker was ejected for an illegal hit. Peters was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The 6-6, 243-pound Foles had previously taken a pounding. He'd been favoring his left shoulder. The interception was overturned on video review. He stayed in the game and capped the drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Maclin.

"My teammates are fighting for me, so I'm not going to stay down," Foles said. "I'm going to get up for those guys."

On the next Washington play, Cousins over threw tight end Niles Paul and was intercepted by Eagles safety Malcom Jenkins. The ensuing field goal made it a 10-point game.

Cousins led another touchdown drive. But when Washington got the ball again at the Philadelphia 41-yard line, trailing by three with 2:25 left, he missed his last three passes.

"We had ... four chances in plus territory to get a first down or get in field goal range," Cousins said. "There's nobody to point the finger on that except for me. We've got to get a first down there."

Follow Gary Mihoces on Twitter @ByGaryMihoces.