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Eagles hold on to beat Redskins

Dec 10, 2006 - 9:22 PM LANDOVER, Maryland (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Eagles' quick start proved just enough.

Jeff Garcia threw for two touchdowns in the first half and the Eagles overcame a career day by Ladell Betts en route to a 21-19 victory over the Washington Redskins.

Safety Michael Lewis also returned an interception 84 yards for a TD in the second quarter for the Eagles (7-6), who nearly squandered a 21-3 lead before holding on.

Garcia had TD passes of 10 yards to tight end L.J. Smith in the first quarter and three yards to Donte' Stallworth in the second for Philadelphia (7-6), which has won consecutive games for the first time since October. The Eagles were playing the opener of a three-game road trip against NFC East foes.

"It was a great challenge for us," Garcia said. "I think playing on the road is a place where you have to show how mentally and physically tough you are. This was a tough, hostile crowd and environment."

"There are not a lot of games left and when you have your backs against the wall you have to battle," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "That's all I expect our guys to do right now."

Despite falling into a huge hole, the Redskins (4-9) nearly came all the way back and looked poised to move in front after having a 1st-and-goal at the Eagles 3 with just over six minutes remaining.

But Betts, who rushed for a career-high 171 yards on 33 carries, was not involved in Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs' play-calling. T.J. Duckett was stopped for no gain, Jason Campbell threw an incompletion and, after a false start, Campbell was sacked by free safety Brian Dawkins.

"T.J. is our goal-line runner and he goes in on those situations," said Gibbs, who is ensured of his second losing season in three years since coming out of retirement.

"They got down there on a good play call by them, but once they got down there I was just making sure guys understood that just because they got down there doesn't mean they're going to score," Dawkins said. "So I was able to come up with a big play there."

Shaun Suisham then kicked his fourth field goal, a 35-yarder with 4:58 left to pull the Redskins within 21-19. But the Redskins were unable to get the ball back.

Betts, who signed a five-year contract extension Friday, enjoyed his third straight 100-yard game. He carried 33 times to lead a ground game that rolled up 210 yards.

Washington lost for the fourth time in five games despite holding a 415-263 advantage in total yards and controlling the ball for nearly 38 minutes.

"I am disappointed," Gibbs said. "We played hard and we played physical."

Suisham kicked a 32-yard field goal on the Redskins' ensuing possession of the second half to cut their deficit to 21-9.

Campbell pulled the Redskins with 21-16 with 23 seconds left in the third quarter with a 34-yard TD pass to Antwaan Randle El down the left side. Campbell converted a pair of third downs on the drive, including a 20-yard completion to tight end Chris Cooley on 3rd-and-7.

In his fourth career start, Campbell completed 15-of-27 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.

Campbell's interception came less than six minutes into the second quarter when he had his pass intended for Cooley tipped by cornerback William James. Lewis grabbed the ball out of mid-air and raced down the left sideline for an 84-yard TD, giving the Eagles a 14-3 lead.

"They were in a heavy package with three tight ends, or something like that," Lewis said. "I knew that if we got the quarterback blocked that I was going to take it to the house."

Garcia rolled to his right and found Stallworth for a three-yard TD with 4:40 left in the first half to make it 21-3. The score was set up by a 60-yard completion to Reggie Brown to the 16.

It was another efficient performance for Garcia, who completed 15-of-23 passes for 164 yards and two TDs. He has won two of his three starts since Donovan McNabb was lost for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, throwing for eight touchdowns without an interception.

Suisham kicked a 45-yard field goal with 4:58 left in the first half to pull the Redskins within 21-6.

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook rushed for 88 yards on 17 carries, putting him within five yards of 1,000 for the season.