Jackson looks forward to matchup with Revis
PHILADELPHIA — DeSean Jackson has all the respect in the world for Darrelle Revis, the cornerback he expects to shadow him Sunday.
But Jackson thinks Revis and his surgically repaired knee will be overmatched when the Eagles take on the Buccaneers Sunday in Florida.
“I’m definitely sure his coaches are confident in him,” Jackson said yesterday. “But I don’t think he can run with me. I don’t think he’s as fast as me. So it will be challenge. He’s a great player. Not to take away from him. Like I say I’m just focused on what we have to do here which is win a football game. We’re not going to make it into a one-on-one battle. We’re not going to make it me versus Revis. It’s the Eagles versus Tampa Bay. And at the end of that game as long as we’re winning that’s all that matters to me.”
With all due respect, Revis wouldn’t be the competitor he is unless he took their one-on-one matchup seriously. It’s been a long road back for Revis, the best cornerback in the league before tearing an ACL last year with the Jets.
Revis preferred to stay with the Jets but they shipped him to the Buccaneers for two draft picks, including a first-rounder. The second pick is protected for performance and injury. Revis also agreed to a six-year $96 million contract, none of it guaranteed.
Jackson expects Revis to be on him kind of like a cheap suit this Sunday. That was the drill two years ago. With Revis checking him, Jackson had just two receptions for 28 yards against the Jets.
Jackson helped open the door up for his teammates. LeSean McCoy rushed for three touchdowns and Brent Celek caught a scoring pass to lead the Eagles to a 45-19 victory at the Linc.
“The last I played him he was like, man, you’re too fast. Slow down,” Jackson recalled of their 2011 showdown. “I’m just going to try to stride him and put my speed on him and stress him out as much as I can. I know he had the injury last year. He’s been playing. As far as I know he’s been healthy. So I’m going to do what I need to do to win.”
*** The Eagles lead the league with 38 plays of 20 or more yards.
Eleven of those plays are receptions by Jackson and six are from running back LeSean McCoy (three rushing, three passing).
Tight end Brent Celek has five catches or 20 or more yards, quarterback Michael Vick, four rushes of 20plus yards.
The next-closest team is Seattle, which has 26 plays of 20-plus yards.
*** NOTES: Safety Patrick Chung (shoulder) practiced. When he’s healthy enough to play, and it’s not a lock he’ll return this week per defensive coordinator Billy Davis, he’ll rotate in at safety and probably nickel corner in some packages … The Eagles have scored 31 points off nine takeaways. Four of those turnovers and 17 of the points came in their last game against the Giants … With 2,274 total net yards, the Eagles are 377 shy of snapping the team record of 2,650 through five games set during the 2011 season … Chip Kelly has beaten two of the only three active head coaches in the league who have won multiple Super Bowls in Tom Coughlin and Mike Shanahan. The other multi-ring guy coaches the Patriots … A moment of silence for defensive back Trent Robinson (Michigan State), cut by the Eagles yesterday. Thank you.