Six catches for 79 yards. Sounds like a fairly pedestrian evening for either DeSean Jackson or Jeremy Maclin, the Eagles' duo of big-play wide receivers. But those are actually the combined numbers for Maclin and Jackson against a Chicago Bears defense that made a point of stopping Michael Vick's outside weapons. And those numbers could have been even less impressive - Maclin and Jackson combined for only 21 receiving yards through the first three quarters of the Eagles' 30-24 loss.
It was another frustrating night, especially, for Jackson, the explosive receiver who hasn't had a reception of over 25 yards in the last three games. Opposing defenses have decided to guard against the home run, which has stymied the Eagles' big-play maker.
"At times we go out there we're able to go out there and get some big plays down the field, but obviously a lot of teams are on to that," Jackson said. "I guess they try to do everything in their power to not let us run on the field and not make those big plays that we have made over the years. I have to find a way to make it happen and get through it.
"I think the defenses are really trying to take away what we do best. But we have to figure it out. For myself, it's frustrating because I am used to doing the big plays, scoring all the touchdowns and things like that. Right now, it's not really working; defenses just aren't letting it happen."
To make matters worse for Jackson, his fumbled punt return at the end of the first half set the Bears up for an easy touchdown, which gave the visitors a seven-point lead going into halftime. It was a momentum-changing play that also accounted for the difference in the final score - though there was plenty of time to make up for it.
"I was just trying to make a play," said Jackson. "The punter did a great job of getting it to the sidelines, kind of turned me around, and when I turned around, the guys were right there and it's really on me to protect the football. Things happen like that, it's part of a football game, it's unfortunate that it was right before the half and put them up seven. But then we got up 24-17 and weren't able to finish. We let them just drive down the field and then on offense we weren't able to sustain drives. It's frustrating but we just have to keep fighting."
Maclin, meanwhile, once again found himself as the targeted receiver with the Eagles needing a fourth-down conversion to keep a potential game-winning drive alive. In Atlanta, the third-year receiver dropped a Mike Kafka pass and the Eagles fell to the Falcons by four points. This time around, Maclin impressively hauled in an errant pass from Michael Vick on 4th-and-10, but the reception affected his balance and he fell one cruel yard short of the first down.
For now, the Eagles are left having to fight their way back once again. At 3-5, three games behind the division-leading New York Giants, the Eagles face a steep uphill climb to the playoffs - but it's a trek that Maclin and Jackson are willing to make.
"There's still an opportunity," Maclin said. "We have a small room for error now, so we have to go out there and take care of business."
"People have been counting us out all year, so it's a familiar feeling, but we have to keep going back and figure it out," said Jackson. "We can't be doing the same things that cause us to lose. Enough is enough."
