Sure, the Eagles left FedEx Field last night with a 27-17 victory over the last-place Washington Redskins, and coach Andy Reid likes to say that every win is a good win in the National Football League.

At the very least, though, this was about as aesthetically appealing as a water-main break.

And at the very worst, it was a costly victory because running back Brian Westbrook left the game midway through the first quarter with a concussion.

The bottom line, though, is that the Eagles improved to 4-2 and are bunched at the top of the NFC East with the New York Giants (5-2) and Dallas Cowboys (4-2), the next two teams on their schedule.

"I thought defensively we played very good football," Reid said. "Offensively, we had our bright spots. It was hit or miss on offense, I thought."

If the Eagles are to overtake the last two winners of the division title, they will need to be far more consistent on offense and add another weapon besides the ultra-dangerous DeSean Jackson.

With or without Westbrook on the field, it's apparent that Jackson is vital to any offensive success the Eagles hope to have, a lesson the Redskins learned in painful fashion on a night when many of their fans exited the stadium before the start of the fourth quarter.

Jackson set the tone for the evening on the Eagles' opening offensive series when quarterback Donovan McNabb faked a handoff up the middle to Westbrook, then tucked the ball into the stomach of his second-year receiver on an end-around play.

Sixty-seven yards down the left sideline later, Jackson celebrated a touchdown that put the Eagles up, 7-0.

Jackson's second touchdown of the evening came just after the two-minute warning in the first half. Using a double move, he easily ran past the Redskins' coverage and waited for a pass that was underthrown by McNabb, before working his way into the end zone for a 57-yard score.

"It was good to be able to be put in spots that I could take advantage of the defense," Jackson said.

By the end of the night, Jackson had two catches and one rush for 136 yards and the two touchdowns. The Eagles' 53 other plays also totaled 136 yards, without a touchdown.

"We had a few big plays, which is great, but consistency-wise, we have to get better," tight end Brent Celek said. "We puttered out too many times. I don't even think we were ever in the red zone."

McNabb was not particularly sharp, the running game continued to malfunction, and the Wildcat formation, particularly the Michael Vick version, remained a failed experiment.

Rookie LeSean McCoy, filling in for Westbrook, averaged just 2.6 yards per carry, and McNabb finished 15 for 25 for 156 yards. He was also sacked three times.

"We did enough to win the game," McNabb said. "There were some mistakes, some throws you'd like to have back, but we won the game. Winning the game is the most important thing."

The good news for the Eagles was that they were playing the offensively challenged Redskins, who had trouble moving and protecting the football. The Eagles sacked quarterback Jason Campbell a half dozen times, including two sacks by defensive end Trent Cole.

Jackson was the difference-maker on offense for the Eagles, and newcomer Will Witherspoon played the same role for the defense.

Seven days after being dealt to the Eagles from the St. Louis Rams, the linebacker had one of the best games of his life.

Late in the first quarter, safety Quintin Mikell blitzed and deflected a Campbell pass into the waiting arms of Witherspoon at the Washington 9-yard line. Given a clear path to the end zone, Witherspoon scored his second career touchdown, giving the Eagles a 14-0 lead.

"That was pretty good," Witherspoon said. "You always love to get your hands on the ball, especially when you have a chance to score. This was my first game with a new team, and it put a stamp to it. This is what I want to do for this team, what I want to be."

Three plays later, the Witherspoon-Mikell combination struck again, with the two playing opposite roles. Witherspoon tracked down a scrambling Campbell from behind for a sack and forced fumble that was recovered by Mikell at the Redskins' 36-yard line.

What followed was an example of the Eagles' offensive ineptness, which was on display often on this night.

Faced with third and 4 from the 30, McNabb misfired on a throw to Jeremy Maclin, and the Eagles settled for a 47-yard field goal by David Akers that made it 17-0.

Another Washington turnover, on a muffed punt by Antwaan Randle El midway through the second quarter, gave the Eagles the ball at the Washington 25-yard line.

Three plays and 1 lost yard later, the offense settled for another field goal by Akers.

The Eagles failed to score in the second half, but it didn't matter on a night when the opponent was the dysfunctional Redskins.

It's far more likely to matter now that the Eagles' schedule is about to be a lot less forgiving.

"We have to play better when it comes to these teams ahead," Celek said. "The record shows they are better teams."

Last night's game ended too late for this edition. For coverage, go to http://go.philly.com/sports