Another week, another interception for Asante Samuel.
The big-play cornerback did what he does best on Sunday, reading the quarterback's eyes and jumping the route for his eighth interception of the season - tied for 2nd in the NFL.
"I saw the quarterback motion and I know his go-to man is Vernon Davis, so I just jumped in on him," said Samuel of his second quarter pick, which he returned for 18 yards.
It was a momentum-changing play because it came on the heels of a Donovan McNabb interception in the end zone late in the second quarter. Samuel's interception set up a David Akers' field goal, and it was the kind clutch play that defensive coordinator Sean McDermott has become accustomed to.
"He has tremendous instincts," McDermott said of Samuel. "And he watches film and gets what he needs to get out of the film so he's successful. My hat goes off to him; he's a tremendously gifted player."
In addition to his interception, Samuel took part in another one of the four turnovers caused by the Eagles' defense in their 27-13 win.
After a failed fourth-and-one by the Eagles' offense, the 49ers took over on the Eagles' 29-yard-line. But they were shut out when Sheldon Brown stripped tight end Delanie Walker of the football and Samuel pounced on the loose ball.
"We're a big play defense, so we're used to causing turnovers," Samuel said. "That's out objective - causing the turnovers ... we did a good job today."
Samuel now has two games to match his career-high interception total of 10, which he achieved in 2006. The brash cornerback said that he's far from done, especially now that the Eagles have clinched a playoff spot.
"You can never be satisfied in this league," Samuel said. "The faster you get in, the faster you leave. I'm always trying to get better, always trying to do better and help my team. (I am) trying to get this city what they want."
What the city wants, of course, is the Lombardi Trophy.
"Going to the playoffs is the first step," said Samuel, one of only two players on the Eagles' roster with a Super Bowl championship ring. "It's a new season. We don't have time to think about it right now, we've got another game coming up. We're in the playoffs, but we're going to be focused on the next game."
-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 10:11 p.m., December 20
