10/14 — It's time for one of the Young Guns to step up, and that's just what rookie CB Darrelle Revis does. Philly QB Donovan McNabb, facing third-and-goal at the Jets 4, tries the fade pass to WR Jason Avant, but Revis is there for the leap and the breakup. The Birds settle for David Akers' 22-yard FG.

Eagles 10, Jets 3

Then Leon Washington is at it again. Even though Akers hits a shorter kickoff that hangs up a long time, Leon and his wedge and blockers remain timed up and he bursts up the right sideline. The only thing that brings him down is when he clips Brad Smith's foot as Smith tries to take out one of the last Eagles tacklers, and Leon comes to rest at the Philly 37 after a 51-yard return.

Chad Pennington has a running game, which means he has play action, and it shows up big when he fakes to Thomas Jones and hits Laveranues Coles open down the middle for 27 yards. However, one TJ zero-yard run and two Chad throws, both to Jerricho Cotchery, one batted away in the end zone by LB Omar Gaither and the other going 7 yards to the 3, lead to Mike Nugent coming on for some small redemption.

He does, converting from 21 yards. The Jets need touchdowns, but at least they stay within striking distance.

Eagles 10, Jets 6

The Jets defense again is struggling to get off the field. In fact, since Nugent's field goal, it's been five minutes and they haven't come off yet. McNabb hits Kevin Curtis to convert third-and-3, scrambles to convert third-and-2, then hands off to backup RB Tony Hunt to convert third-and-a-foot.

Finally, the drive slows with Jonathan Vilma breaking up one pass, Philly RG Shawn Andrews getting flagged for holding, then Vilma rocking Hank Baskett to the ground short of the sticks for a third-down stop. Finally, the usually reliable David Akers pinwheels his 41-yard field goal try wide right toward the evil east end zone. The Jets survive an 8-minute, 23-second drive.

The Eagles D is still having trouble keeping up with the Jones as Thomas rushes for 7, 2 and 4 yards with his crisp cuts, picking up a third-down conversion in the process. Then Pennington hits Jerricho Cotchery for 9 yards and just gets the hurryup sneak conversion for the first down at the Birds 46. Two (minutes to go) plus three (timeouts left) should add up to six.

But it doesn't. On third-and-9, the Jets face an all-out blitz, don't have the angle on blitzing LB Trent Cole from the blind side, and Pennington goes down for the sack at the Jets 45.

Then Reno Mahe's 32-yard punt return is a stunner, primarily because it's the first return of 20 or more yards given up the Jets since 2005. Also, it gives the green visitors a good shot to score before the half with the ball at their 46 and 1:10 to play.

Bryan Thomas tracks down McNabb for his first sack of the year — it's ruled a split sack with Dewayne Robertson but perhaps should be ruled BT's alone. But after calling their third timeout with 27 seconds left, McNabb hits Kevin Curtis twice for troubling first downs to the Jets 23. Then McNabb takes a shot into the end zone for Curtis, but Andre Dyson is there to break it up, so on comes Akers for a 41-yarder with 8 seconds left in the half.

The Jets call timeout, although not as Akers is kicking, as is the style in the NFL this year. Whether it was a classic case of icing the kicker, or the evil east end zone, the left-footed Akers hooks his second try of the quarter wide right.

Pennington kneels to end the half. The Jets are in it, trailing only 10-6. But it's troubling that, despite a strong Eagles defense, the home team couldn't find the end zone in the first 30 minutes.