Faster than the speed of a screaming Tom Coughlin.
DeSean Jackson is officially one of the best receivers in the league, after his performance against the New York Giants on Sunday night.
He caught six passes for 178 receiving yards and a touchdown, to go along with a punt return TD to boot.
Jackson scored on a 72-yard punt return and a 60-yard pass from Donovan McNabb, sparking the Philadelphia Eagles to their most points this season in a 45-38 shootout victory over the New York Giants on Sunday night.
Jackson missed last week with a concussion, but was in Pro Bowl-form in boosting Philadelphia (9-4) into the NFC East lead.
Jackson has eight touchdowns of 50-plus yards this year, tying the NFL mark.
The step-back move that set up the punt return was a thing of beauty.
The five or so defenders running full force towards him were all faked out and left in Jackson's dust, as he bolted right down the sideline 72 yards.
"I told them to get the ball in my hands," Jackson said. "I think of myself as a go-to receiver. I want the ball there. I knew there were things we could do when they had me in single coverage."
He is the most explosive receiver in the NFC East and maybe even the entire conference.
He possesses the lateral quickness to turn the corner, and has the blinding-fast foot speed to glide right by with reliable hands that don't turn the ball over.
Sounds like everything you would want in a receiver or return man.
"There's nothing he can't do on a football field," said Michael Vick, who at one time received the same complaint. "He's going to be a great one. I've never been around anyone like him."
With the Eagles' former most explosive player's (RB Brian Westbrook) season in doubt, Jackson has been able to keep the pressure off backups Leonard Weaver and LeSean McCoy, who combined for a pedestrian 61 yards against the beat-up Giants D.
Jackson is a Pro Bowl lock. Even having missed a game, he has 947 yards and 10 total TD's (seven receiving, two punt returns, and a rushing TD).
Sidney Rice, Larry Fitzgerald, Miles Austin, and Steve Smith (NYG) all have more receiving yards than Jackson in the NFC.
Only Fitzgerald and Austin have more TDs, while Jackson is the only one in the group to return punts.
Jackson is approaching a Devin-Hester-in-'07-like level.
Defenses are terrified of getting beat by him deep, yet it continues to happen.
Why did the Giants not double-team Jackson at any point?
The explosive play ability of Jackson and the Eagles will keep this team afloat well into January.
In only his second year, Jackson (who needs a nickname ASAP) has a chance to be one of the top receivers for the next five to 10 years.
"He loves to play the game," Eagles' coach Andy Reid, who can't help chest-bumping Jackson after a TD, said. "He wants the ball, and I love giving it to him."
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