DeSean Jackson made a big splash in his NFL debut, gaining 203 total yards -- 106 yards on six catches and 97 yards on eight punt returns -- and the Philadelphia Eagles ripped the St. Louis Rams 38-3 in the season opener for both clubs.
Donovan McNabb completed 21-of-33 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns as the Eagles (1-0) dominated in every phase of the game. Hank Baskett had a 90- yard touchdown catch and 102 yards receiving, and Greg Lewis gained 104 yards on five grabs for Philadelphia.
Brian Westbrook gained 91 yards on 19 carries, rushed for one touchdown, and added a scoring grab for the Eagles, who will likely face a sterner test next Monday in Dallas against the division-rival Cowboys.
Marc Bulger completed 14-of-26 passes for 158 yards for the Rams (0-1), who were outgained 522-166, and managed only eight first downs to 28 by the Eagles. Steven Jackson, who missed most of the preseason during a lengthy holdout, gained 40 yards on 14 carries, and Randy McMichael had five catches for 77 yards for the Rams, who did not score until a Josh Brown field goal in the fourth quarter.
Jackson didn't wait long to make an impact on the game, as his 47-yard catch- and-run on the second play from scrimmage set up the Eagles' first score, a one-yard shuffle pass to Westbrook. That score capped a quick six-play, 80- yard drive, and Philadelphia led 7-0.
McNabb found Jason Avant over the middle for a 31-yard gain on a 3rd-and-12 on the next Philadelphia drive, and three plays later L.J. Smith hauled in a five-yard touchdown pass over the middle for a 14-0 Eagles lead with 1:53 to play in the first.
Facing a 3rd-and-8 at their own 10-yard-line late in the second quarter, the Eagles went for the big strike. The Rams inexplicably left Baskett wide open down the left side, and McNabb hit him in stride for a 90-yard touchdown, pushing the Eagles up 21-0 with 47 seconds remaining in the half.
The Eagles outgained the Rams 331-87 in the opening 30 minutes, with McNabb leading the way. The Eagles quarterback rarely had to move around in a well- protected pocket, and he carved the St. Louis defense up for 297 yards and three scores on 16-of-24 passing before the break.
Philadelphia kept pouring it on in the second half. While the St. Louis offense couldn't get any rhythm going, the Eagles looked like a well-oiled machine. Tony Hunt's one-yard dive gave Philadelphia a four-touchdown lead with 5:45 left in the third quarter, and Jackson's 60-yard punt return set up a 23-yard David Akers field goal for a 31-0 Eagles lead with 2:29 left in the third.
The Birds added one more scoring drive in what would be their last appearance of the day. McNabb found Jackson for an 11-yard gain on a drive which progressed into the fourth quarter, which Westbrook capped by going over left tackle for a six-yard scoring run. Westbrook's score pushed the Eagles lead to 38-0 with 12:06 remaining in the game.
St. Louis' only points of the day came on a 46-yard field goal by Brown with nine minutes to play. Brown's boot came after a six-play, 52-yard drive by the Rams, the lone bright spot in a dreary day for St. Louis.
Game Notes
The 35-point margin of victory is the largest by the Eagles in a season opener in franchise history...Rams wide receiver Drew Bennett left early in the first quarter after an apparent knee injury after a four-yard catch. He did not return...Baskett has four career touchdown receptions. Three of them are for 85 yards or more...The 361 yards passing was the most by McNabb in a season opener in career history...The Eagles haven't had three players top 100 yards receiving since December 18, 1960.
