Dropped passes mar Maclin's season

Here are some observations and ruminations about Sunday's Eagles-Redskins game:

When you put Jeremy Maclin's season in perspective, a few dropped passes pale in comparison to his scare with cancer.

But we're writing about football here, and while the wide receiver took another step toward becoming a Pro Bowler, he had a number of forgetful moments this season. The late dropped pass against the Falcons and the late fumble against the 49ers were the headliners, but Maclin added another to the list Sunday against the Redskins when he dropped a sure touchdown pass from a scrambling Michael Vick.

Maclin would have certainly finished this season with 1,000 yards receiving had he not missed three games due to injury. But, although he finished Sunday with a team-high eight catches for 105 yards, he has to be disappointed with his third season.

Eagles fans finally got another look Sunday at safety Jaiquawn Jarrett, the second-round pick who made just his second start. The early returns were not great.

Jarrett, whose main talent was supposed to be sure tackling and physical play, was one of four Eagles juked by Washington's Evan Royster on a second-quarter run. He later got blocked inside on another long Washington run.

In coverage, where even the Eagles acknowledge he needs work, Jarrett missed an interception when he didn't get his head around to see a Rex Grossman pass headed directly at him. Jarrett got the breakup but only because Grossman's throw was so bad.

Jarrett delivered a solid hit in the third quarter, but overall, it wasn't an encouraging showing for a player expected to try to fight for a starting job in 2012.

Chad Hall's first touchdown of the season and second of his career was remarkable for a few reasons.

First the score: The diminutive Hall (5-foot-8, 187 pounds) caught the 7-yard pass inside the Washington 5 and was immediately hit by cornerback DeAngelo Hall (195 pounds). Linebacker Perry Riley (242) jumped in as well, and yet Hall slipped through both of them and scooted into the end zone. Nice effort.

The celebration? Well, Hall tried to leap into the stands but didn't quite have the hops and needed a hand scrambling up the wall into the first row.

Thankfully, Maclin was there to help Hall get down. That's teamwork.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie showed reasons Sunday to have faith in him for next season and reasons to worry - often on the same play.

Twice in the first half the speedy cornerback got beat deep, despite playing in the outside cornerback position he knows better than the slot spot where he has played most of the year.

On the first deep throw, Rodgers-Cromartie caught up to Santana Moss, making up enough ground to get an arm on the receiver as the ball came in. Moss should have made the catch, but DRC showed how valuable his make-up speed can be.

On the second pass, the corner was well beaten, but Grossman, under pressure, badly underthrew the pass. Rodgers-Cromartie caught up again, and this time the tipped pass was intercepted by a hustling Nate Allen.

It was nice that Rodgers-Cromartie was able to recover, but maybe he should consider turning on the jets before having to make a dramatic save.

It's not much of a stretch to say that Derek Landri has been one of the Eagles better defensive players this season.

The defensive tackle, who has cut before the season but brought back a month later after Antonio Dixon's season-ending triceps injury, has earned the right to come back next season.

That doesn't mean the five-year veteran, who will be a free agent, won't have other teams beside the Eagles bidding for his talents. Landri showed his value against the Redskins when he blocked a 36-yard field-goal attempt in the second quarter. He also made several big tackles against the run and has become the Eagles' top interior run stopper this season.