Westbrook makes major statement

PHILADELPHIA – Knocked for being too small or too fragile, Brian Westbrook was sturdy enough to dazzle the New York Giants and keep the Philadelphia Eagles’ title hopes alive.

Westbrook sparked the Eagles with a brilliant 49-yard touchdown run, had several clutch rushes in the winning drive and finished with a playoff-best 141 yards in their 23-20 win over the Giants in a first-round playoff game Sunday.

The Giants are headed home and Tiki Barber is retiring. Now could be Westbrook’s time to establish himself as the elite running back in the NFC East. And he’ll get to keep proving it in the playoffs.

Barber hugged Westbrook after David Akers kicked the 38-yard winning field goal as time ran out. It was one outstanding running back appreciating another. Barber wasn’t too shabby, either, with 137 yards rushing in his final game.

“I told Tiki after the game he had a great career and if I could be half as good as he was, I’ll have a good career,” Westbrook said.

Obviously, though, Jeff Garcia wasn’t the only Eagle to benefit from Donovan McNabb’s absence. The 5-foot-8 Westbrook backed up years of talk that he should be running the ball more often and thrived as the Eagles started running more with McNabb down, finishing with his first 1,000-yard season.

Then Westbrook gave the Eagles something to really remember in the second quarter Sunday.

Philadelphia went three-and-out on early drives, pinned back in its territory and generating little offense. Then Westbrook burst through the line, bounced around the right side, was tripped near the 20 and seemingly headed to the turf. He somehow kept his balance, cut inside and reversed his direction all the way into the end zone.

A strong start. A stumble. Then a flourish. Sounds like the Eagles season.

Westbrook did it all with a severe case of stomach cramps he started feeling in the second quarter. Westbrook was shuffled in-and-out on several plays to open the third quarter. After waiting all these years to show he could carry the Eagles, nothing was going to slow him down.

“I wouldn’t have missed being out there with my teammates,” Westbrook said.

The Giants wished Westbrook could have sat out that last drive. Westbrook had runs of 11 and 13 yards to get the Eagles down to the 20 and give Akers a chip shot.

“In certain situations, big-time players step up when they’re needed the most,” he said.