Eagles Notes: DeSean Jackson expects Eagles to soar after bye

DeSean Jackson is quietly having his finest season in the NFL.

The breathtaking plays have been few and far between, but that hasn't necessarily been the fault of the Pro Bowl wide receiver. The Eagles offense has sputtered for most of the first six games, partly because of a banged-up offensive line, mostly because of Michael Vick and the unit's 17 turnovers, and entirely because there hasn't been cohesion.

Jackson, though, said the offense is poised to turn things around Sunday when the Eagles host the 6-0 Atlanta Falcons.

"This year, it's been an uphill battle. We've been shooting ourselves in the foot - doing good, having so much success, and then turning the ball over," Jackson said Friday in a one-on-one interview. "This week after a bye week we usually come back and play well and go on a hot streak. Hopefully, all the bad stuff is out of us - the turnovers and all the other nonsense."

The Eagles under Andy Reid are 13-0 the week after the bye. For most of those seasons, the coach had an explosive offense to rely on. The Eagles finished in the top 12 in scoring in 10 of Reid's 13 previous seasons. This season, though, the Birds are averaging 17.2 points a game, third worst in the NFL.

Jackson has only one touchdown this season, but he's getting open, and, most important, he's making the catches. He doesn't have a drop and has 29 catches for 465 yards, numbers that would project to a career-best 77 receptions for 1,240 yards.

"I'm just on path to do what I need to do and continue to help this team any way possible," Jackson said. "I think that's been a big focus for me this year and, really, every year since I've been here. . . .

"I'm trying to be there when my number is called and even when my number is not called. That's just the biggest difference - my mentality."

Jackson has been lying low for most of the season. Last season, he was a lightning rod when he let his contract situation distract him from the business at hand. He received the extension in the offseason - $51 million over five years, with $15 million guaranteed - and appears to be playing with the right frame of mind.

Jackson could be tested Sunday against former teammate Asante Samuel. Does he expect to line up opposite the Falcons cornerback?

"I'm sure, I'm sure," said Jackson, who said he spoke with Samuel before the bye. "He knows me very well. He knows this offense very well."

Notes. Defensive end Phillip Hunt is listed as questionable with a calf injury. Hunt fully participated in practice, but the injury could prompt the Eagles to activate second-round pick Vinny Curry on Sunday. . . . Guard Todd Herremans credited Reid for his flawless record after the bye week, saying that the coach gives the players more time off than required and uses the extra time to prepare for the next opponent. "An extra week to game-plan, an extra week to strategize, and an extra week to break things down," Herremans said. "He's been very successful at that, so we'll try and keep that going."