Westbrook, Eagles finally break free

Jan 5, 2009 - 4:05 AM By Tom Torrisi PA SportsTicker Pro Football Editor

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Brian Westbrook was getting an unwanted close-up view on why the Minnesota Vikings owned the league's top-ranked rushing defense.

With under seven minutes to play and the Philadelphia Eagles clinging to a two-point lead in Sunday's NFC wild-card game, Westbrook was having one of the worst performances of what has been an injury-riddled season.

Westbrook's stat line was brutal by any measure: 14 carries for a mere 18 yards, and this against a unit that was missing two starters on its defensive front.

"I was getting the touches, but I wasn't getting the yards that I wanted to," Westbrook said. "So, I'm definitely looking forward to that next touch, trying to make a big play."

With a mere change-of-pace tactic, that touch brought the big play Westbrook was seeking and the enabled the Eagles to finally put away the pesky Vikings in their 26-14 victory.

Westbrook took a short screen pass from Donovan McNabb in the right flat and, behind textbook blocking, weaved his way 71 yards to the end zone, providing the final points of the contest and securing a third meeting this season with the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants next Sunday in the divisional round.

"We weren't able to establish the run, but that screen came at the right time," Westbrook said. "At that point in the game, we needed some momentum. That touchdown provided the momentum."

"They were flying up the field and Brian hit that son of a gun," Philadelphia coach Andy Reid said. "He got a little blocking out there and then he hit it. He is tough to stop once he gets out there."

The play frustrated Minnesota's defensive unit, which to that point had held the Eagles to three field goals on offense.

"You take away that one play and we were pretty solid," Vikings linebacker Ben Leber said. "It's hard to hang your hat on a good performance when you give up a play like that. I think we just have to make the play. I wish we could go back and play it over."

In many ways, Sunday's game typified the season for Westbrook, who has been hindered by myriad injuries that forced him to miss two games and limit his effectiveness in several others.

Coming off back-to-back 1,200-plus yard campaigns, Westbrook finished with just 936 this season, failing to crack 61 yards in 10 of his 14 games.

Yet he also set career highs with nine rushing touchdowns and 14 overall, remaining the focal point of a pass-first Philadelphia offense.

Ironically, Sunday's matchup marked just the fifth time this season that Westbrook received 20 carries. He finished with 38 yards on 20 attempts and 83 yards on three interceptions - the biggie, of course, being the screen pass.

"That's the only way we knew they were going to hurt us, with the passing game and completing those short passes," Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield said. "We didn't really fear their run. We knew they weren't going to try and run against us. He (Westbrook) does a good job, they set it up well. They made the plays."

It also provided a rubber match with the Giants. Not surprisingly, Westbrook's performance had a major bearing on the outcome of the first two meetings.

New York won in Philadelphia, 36-31, on November 9, holding Westbrook to 26 yards on 13 carries, but in the rematch at the Meadowlands on December 9, the two-time Pro Bowler shredded the Giants' defense for 131 yards and a touchdown while catching six passes for 72 yards.

So it should be no surprise how the Eagles will approach next weekend's contest.

Any time you get the opportunity to give the ball to a guy like Westbrook, if you're given that opportunity in space against any of the defenders, you feel confident about that matchup," McNabb said. "And, time and time again, you give him that opportunity he makes plays for you."