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SAN FRANCISCO - Juqua Parker said he knew exactly what was coming when he sealed the Eagles' 40-26 win over the 49ers with a 55-yard return of an interception for a touchdown with 38 seconds remaining in a game that offered little logic today at Candlestick Park.
He knew because he did a little eavesdropping.
Parker said he overheard Niners quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan saying something to wide receiver Arnaz Battle that tipped him off.
"During the course of the game, he [O'Sullivan] did that play before when he thought we were blitzing," Parker said. "At that point, I was dropping out and I heard him talking to that receiver and I just figured he was going to throw to him. He thought we were going to blitz up the middle, so what I did is I popped out quick and he threw the ball and I was just happy to be there."
For the defensive end who didn't practice last week because of a swollen knee, the interception was the highlight of his career and it capped a superb performance. A strong case can be made that Parker has been the Eagles' best defensive player this season, and he provided plenty of evidence in a game they simply had to win.
Early in the fourth quarter, after Takeo Spikes intercepted a Donovan McNabb pass with the Niners holding a 26-17 lead, the Eagles desperately needed to turn the momentum back in their favor - quickly. On third down, Parker sacked O'Sullivan for a 9-yard loss, forcing the 49ers to punt from their own end zone. A short punt gave the Eagles possession at the San Francisco 38-yard line, and McNabb tossed a 2-yard scoring pass to L.J. Smith, pulling the Eagles to within 26-24.
After David Akers gave the Birds a 27-26 lead with a 38-yard field goal, Parker again emerged with a big play. He sniffed out a trick play and dropped tight end Delanie Walker for a 10-yard loss on an end around.
The next play, Quintin Mikell made an interception.
"We wanted to make a change when we were in the game," Parker said. "We stepped up really big. We told ourselves that we were going to go out there and play hard, and that's what we did and we came through with the victory."
Parker was named Juqua Thomas when he was signed as a free agent in 2005, and he broke into the starting lineup the second half of last season. This season, he leads the Eagles with 41/2 sacks and has six quarterback hurries as well as a forced fumble. He showed surprising speed as he raced into the end zone for the TD, but it wasn't a surprise to some of his teammates.
"Oh yeah, I knew he had that speed," cornerback Sheldon Brown said. "He's an athletic individual. When you're a free agent in the league and you're starting, you're a special player. Free agents have to work that much harder. It's not politics. They have to work that much harder and he deserves everything he gets."
Parker was listed as questionable Friday, but he said he never doubted he'd be on the field today. The toughest part was keeping his knee loose during the six-hour flight, which he did by walking up and down the aisle.
"The knee felt pretty good," he said. "There's a little soreness, but it felt pretty good."
at 215-854-2743 or rparrillo@phillynews.com.
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