Latest confusing win highlights Eagles' maddening habits

PHILADELPHIA -- In a sport that is brutally and chaotically violent, the hit DeSean Jackson endured looked like many others. It appeared to be your garden-variety NFL barbarism.

Jackson caught a pass from Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and was hit hard from behind by frisky Redskins linebacker London Fletcher. The hit was hard but didn't appear to be overly nasty.

DeSean Jackson celebrates his 35-yard touchdown for the Eagles. (Getty Images)

Apparently, it was. Jackson suffered a concussion, according to coach Andy Reid. Jackson, who Reid said didn't lose consciousness, is the second star on the team with one. Runner Brian Westbrook's season is likely over after his two.

After the hit, Fletcher jumped up and down, celebrating as Jackson lay on the ground near his feet, motionless for a moment. Philadelphia wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was so angered that he shoved Fletcher, and an official was forced to intervene and prevent a scuffle.

Jackson walked off the field and eventually headed to the locker room in the third quarter with what the team initially described as head and neck injuries. He never returned.

Philadelphia would go on to salvage its season and stay in the division race by beating Dan Snyder's sorry Florida State Redskins 27-24 in a game the Eagles should've won by 40. Snyder's brilliant team building has hatched yet another lovely winner as the Jim Zorn farewell tour continues. Congratulations, D.C. At least you have Obama.

As for the Eagles, they look like Super Bowl winners one week, the Cleveland Browns the next. They are dangerous and vulnerable; brilliant and frustrating. Sometimes the Eagles are all of those things in one quarter.

The Eagles are the most mind-boggling team in the sport. There's a reason a real eagle is bald: It has pulled out all of its hair in angry fits of frustration watching its namesake.

Case in mystifying point: Philadelphia was a heavy favorite yet still started the game with an onside kick. It failed and Washington easily scored.

Understand the frustration now?

The Eagles are 7-4 and in the thick of the NFC playoff race. It's a damn ugly 7-4, but they're still in it. Not exactly sure how, but they are.

"I think we're starting to come together," said Eagles safety Quintin Mikell. "We still haven't played a perfect game, obviously, but I think everybody's starting to believe, everybody's starting to pull together and we're fighting."

Now comes the very bad news amid Philadelphia's up-and-down season. The Eagles' second-best player next to McNabb -- and arguably the most exciting player in the sport in Jackson -- is hurt.

The question for the Eagles' season is how hurt is Jackson?

"We'll have to wait and see how he is," Reid said.

Given the sensitivity and awareness of the concussion issue now, it's unlikely Jackson will play next week, and his absence could be longer.

It's a tough blow for a receiver who was on a hot streak. He scored a 35-yard touchdown Sunday, giving him eight from the year -- seven coming from 48 yards away or more. When Jackson returns kicks, he has a little bit of Deion Sanders in him.

Jackson is one of the few things about the Eagles that isn't frustrating. The Eagles might be infuriating, but I remain a believer even if I'm one of the few. They possess just enough firepower and defense to cause problems for others and overcome their own.

But they are maddening and meandering. Sometimes their blemishes are few and in other moments many. Against Washington it was typical Eagles. The offensive line was good and then leaky. The defense was tight and then loose. The Redskins were missing their top two running backs and someone named Rock Cartwright was starting. Cartwright sounds like he should be starring in a Gunsmoke remake, yet the Washington offense still amassed 303 total yards.

Asante Samuel got his seventh interception, giving him the most for the Eagles in a season since Troy Vincent in 1999. They would make good plays like that and then arm tackle.

That's the Eagles.

They deserve a degree of faith but that belief will come with a price.

Namely, ulcers.