Birds of a feather…

MINNEAPOLIS – It used to be as much a staple in the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense as the cheeseburger is in coach Andy Reid’s diet.

If you were playing against Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook, you knew they were going to try to pick you apart with a variety of screen plays during the course of the game.

Lately, however, we haven’t seen the screens as much. Perhaps it’s because Pro Bowl guard Shawn Andrews is not around to lead the way.

Or maybe Westbrook has an even better explanation.

“I think a lot of teams have focused on trying to take our screen game away,” he said.

That’s not what the Minnesota Vikings were doing Sunday in the Eagles’ 26-14 playoff victory at the Metrodome. They were rushing McNabb with blitzing linebackers and aggressive play from their defensive linemen and they were having success, sacking the quarterback three times and holding the Eagles’ offense to three field goals through 53 minutes.

But with just under seven minutes left in the game, and the Eagles clinging to the same two-point lead they had built in the first half, Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg decided it was time to dust off one of their old favorites.

“We called that play exactly at the right time,” Westbrook said.

And it worked as planned even though things were a little shaky at the start. Westbrook slipped behind the charging Vikings defenders, McNabb dumped the football to his running back, and 71 yards later the Eagles had given themselves some breathing room on their way to victory in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs.

“The offensive line did a great job of getting out there on the screen … and then Correll (Buckhalter) threw a great block and the receivers escorted me into the end zone,” Westbrook said.

That escort to the end zone also included a ticket to the second round of the playoffs for the Eagles, who improved to 10-6-1. The Eagles will play the New York Giants (12-4) for the third time this season Sunday at Giants Stadium.

Before Westbrook’s huge play, the Eagles running back had done next to nothing for an offense that was reasonably balanced in terms of the pass-to-run ratio, but entirely unbalanced in terms of production. In short, the Eagles, like most teams when they play the Vikings, had trouble running, picking up 67 yards on 23 plays, with 27 of them coming on one run by Buckhalter.

Westbrook had just 30 yards on his first 16 touches of the game.

“We were very patient,” Westbrook said. “Those guys were very aggressive on defense, taking away the run.

“We did a good job of throwing the ball down the field, but we were also patient and continued to run the ball and make them stay honest.

“I wouldn’t say I was frustrated, but I wanted to help the team win. I was getting the touches, but I wasn’t getting as many yards as I wanted to. I was just looking forward to that next touch and trying to help this team win.”

Reid said it wasn’t difficult to keep calling Westbrook’s number.

“No, because somewhere he is going to hit one,” Reid said after his postseason coaching record improved to 9-6, including 4-0 in the wild-card round.

Westbrook’s 71-yard TD almost was aborted at the line of scrimmage because guard Nick Cole was in the running back’s way.

“That’s why I hopped to the side,” Cole said. “I didn’t even see him catch the ball, but I knew once Westbrook got out there, he was gone. Nobody was going to catch him. I just put my hands up.”

Although Westbrook started the party along the Eagles’ sideline, it was the Eagles’ defense that came through with another outstanding game, holding the Vikings scoreless in the second half.

Adrian Peterson, the NFL’s leading rusher, accounted for 83 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns, but he had just eight carries for 17 yards in the second half.

Eagles 26, Vikings 14

Philadelphia	6	10	0	10	—	26
Minnesota	0	14	0	0	—	14

 Phi—FG Akers 43

Phi—FG Akers 51

Min—Peterson 40 run (Longwell kick

Phi—FG Akers 31

Phi—Samuel 44 interception return (Akers kick)

Min—Peterson 3 run (Longwell kick)

Phi—Westbrook 71 pass from McNabb (Akers kick)

Phi—FG Akers 45

A—61,746.

	Phi	Min
First downs	15	16
Total Net Yards	350	301
Rushes-yards	23-67	34-148
Passing	283	153
Punt Returns	5-109	1-1
Kickoff Returns	3-47	7-153
Interceptions Ret.	1-44	1-0
Comp-Att-Int	23-34-1	15-35-1
Sacked-Yards Lost	3-17	1-11
Punts	4-44.3	8-45.3
Fumbles-Lost	1-1	2-1
Penalties-Yards	7-55	4-25
Time of Possession	27:54	32:06

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Philadelphia, Westbrook 20-38, Buckhalter 2-27, D.Jackson 1-2. Minnesota, Peterson 20-83, Taylor 12-48, Jackson 2-17.

PASSING—Philadelphia, McNabb 23-34-1-300. Minnesota, Jackson 15-35-1-164.

RECEIVING—Philadelphia, Celek 6-56, Avant 5-47, Curtis 4-49, Westbrook 3-83, R.Brown 2-17, D.Jackson 1-34, Baskett 1-7, Schobel 1-7. Minnesota, Taylor 5-36, Wade 3-24, Berrian 2-36, Kleinsasser 2-34, Rice 2-27, Shiancoe 1-7.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.