DeSean Jackson had the big game last week, putting up 154 yards and 2 TDs against Washington. Does this mean that he’s healthy and in top form – more likely to have another such game tonight? Or is it simply an opportunity lost?
On the one hand, Jackson has shown he can do it. On the other, tonight’s opponent (Atlanta) has now been given a big warning that it must be careful not to let Jackson get deep for a long touchdown.
Jackson has had many such similar games over the years, so I decided to pull the numbers. Since 2011, he’s had 16 games where he’s both scored and gone over 100 yards. That’s a full season worth of work (and a remarkably good one if those games could be strung together) – 86 catches for 2,133 yards and 17 TDs.
| DESEAN JACKSON; 16 BIG GAMES | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Game | Result | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2011 | Phi. at St.L. | W 31-13 | 6 | 102 | 17.0 | 1 |
| 2012 | Phi. at NO | L 13-28 | 3 | 100 | 33.3 | 1 |
| 2013 | Phi. at Was. | W 33-27 | 7 | 104 | 14.9 | 1 |
| 2013 | Phi. v. S.D. | L 30-33 | 9 | 193 | 21.4 | 1 |
| 2013 | Phi. at NYG | W 36-21 | 7 | 132 | 18.9 | 1 |
| 2013 | Phi. at Oak. | W 49-20 | 5 | 150 | 30.0 | 1 |
| 2013 | Phi. at Min. | L 30-48 | 10 | 195 | 19.5 | 1 |
| 2014 | Was. at Phi. | L 34-37 | 5 | 117 | 23.4 | 1 |
| 2014 | Was. v. Sea. | L 17-27 | 5 | 157 | 31.4 | 1 |
| 2014 | Was. at Ari. | L 20-30 | 3 | 115 | 38.3 | 1 |
| 2014 | Was. at Min. | L 26-29 | 4 | 120 | 30.0 | 1 |
| 2015 | Was. v. Buf. | W 35-25 | 6 | 153 | 25.5 | 1 |
| 2016 | Was. at Dal. | L 26-31 | 4 | 118 | 29.5 | 1 |
| 2016 | Was. at Phi. | W 27-22 | 3 | 102 | 34.0 | 1 |
| 2018 | T.B. at NO | W 48-40 | 5 | 146 | 29.2 | 2 |
| 2018 | T.B. v. Phi. | W 27-21 | 4 | 129 | 32.3 | 1 |
| - | Total | - | 86 | 2,133 | 24.8 | 17 |
But if we then look at how Jackson did in his next 16 games – the week after those whoppers – the production looks pretty much in line with his career body of work. Totals of 63 catches for 1,095 yards and 6 TDs.
| DESEAN JACKSON; WEEK AFTER BIG GAMES | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Game | Result | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2011 | Phi. at Atl. | L 31-35 | 2 | 21 | 10.5 | 0 |
| 2012 | Phi. v. Dal. | L 23-38 | 5 | 62 | 12.4 | 0 |
| 2013 | Phi. v. S.D. | L 30-33 | 9 | 193 | 21.4 | 1 |
| 2013 | Phi. v. K.C. | L 16-26 | 3 | 62 | 20.7 | 0 |
| 2013 | Phi. at T.B. | W 31-20 | 6 | 64 | 10.7 | 2 |
| 2013 | Phi. at G.B. | W 27-13 | 4 | 80 | 20.0 | 1 |
| 2013 | Phi. v. Chi. | W 54-11 | 4 | 29 | 7.3 | 0 |
| 2014 | Was. v. NYG | L 14-45 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 |
| 2014 | Was. at Ari. | L 20-30 | 3 | 115 | 38.3 | 1 |
| 2014 | Was. v. Ten. | W 19-17 | 3 | 49 | 16.3 | 0 |
| 2014 | Was. v. T.B. | L 7-27 | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 0 |
| 2015 | Was. at Phi. | W 38-24 | 4 | 40 | 10.0 | 0 |
| 2016 | Was. at Ari. | L 23-31 | 1 | 59 | 59.0 | 0 |
| 2016 | Was. v. Car. | L 15-26 | 7 | 111 | 15.9 | 0 |
| 2018 | T.B. v. Phi. | W 27-21 | 4 | 129 | 32.3 | 1 |
| 2018 | T.B. v. Pit. | L 27-30 | 3 | 37 | 12.3 | 0 |
| - | Total | - | 63 | 1,095 | 17.4 | 6 |
I’m not opposed to rolling the dice on Jackson, but he looks like a hit-or-miss option.
—Ian Allan