NFL

• Eagles turn West to head back in right direction

  
  

  By Scott Garbarini, Associate NFL Editor

  (Sports Network) - On an afternoon when their season could have headed south for good, the Philadelphia Eagles dug deep and came through with one of their grittiest performances of the year.

  There were plenty of contributors to the Eagles' 33-25 victory on the road over fellow NFC East member Washington this past Sunday, a game in which Philadelphia rallied from a near double-digit deficit by scoring 20 fourth- quarter points. Maligned quarterback Donovan McNabb threw four touchdown passes, three of which came after intermission, while the defense atoned for a series of early breakdowns by coming up with stops at crucial moments.

  But the Eagles' biggest play of the afternoon was provided by the most likely source of such moments, Brian Westbrook.

  With Philadelphia trailing 25-20 with less than 3 1/2 minutes remaining, the dynamic running back took a screen pass from McNabb and skillfully followed a number of well-executed blocks before outrunning the Washington defense for a 57-yard touchdown.

  That tide-turning play was the highlight of another ultra-productive and memorable day for Westbrook, who was born and raised outside Washington and whose younger brother Byron is a defensive back on the Redskins' practice squad. The versatile sixth-year pro racked up 183 yards from scrimmage, including 100 on the ground, and matched a career-high with three total touchdowns.

  Westbrook's stellar outing also turned out to be a nice tribute to his uncle, William Torney, who passed away last week. After attending the funeral on Saturday, he dedicated the game to Torney's memory.

  "I came into the game with a heavy heart," said Westbrook. "He was a big part of my life in my early development as a younger kid, and it is always good to get a win here in Washington, my hometown, but it was a little bit sweeter because of my uncle."

  Westbrook was also quick to point out the efforts of his teammates, particularly those on the field, for his exciting go-ahead touchdown. He was sprung by a devastating block from guard Shawn Andrews on Redskins linebacker Rocky McIntosh, while tackle Jon Runyan and wide receiver Reggie Brown also effectively took out their men further along in the play.

  "That screen was really a play that shows how much a team game this really is, and how much the team really wanted it," said Westbrook. "Our offensive line did a great job of getting down the field, throwing blocks across the board, all of them."

  That score came shortly after a huge goal-line stand from the Philadelphia defense that kept the game a one-possession affair. The unit stopped the Redskins' Clinton Portis three times from inside the seven-yard line to force a 21-yard Shaun Suisham field goal that extended the Washington lead to only five points.

  On the Redskins' next possession, quarterback Jason Campbell was sacked by Eagles tackle Mike Patterson on fourth down to give Philadelphia the ball at the Washington 10 with just over two minutes left. Westbrook scored his third touchdown of the day on the ensuing play.

  "There were some highs and there were some lows," said Eagles head coach Andy Reid. "That is where you check your gut there, on the low ones, and I thought the guys worked through it. They seemed like they were positive all the way through."

  ANSWERING THE CRITICS

  Philadelphia's disappointing 3-5 record prior to Sunday's victory and the presence of well-regarded rookie Kevin Kolb led to rampant speculation in the days leading up to the game that Reid was tinkering with the idea of making a quarterback switch. The embattled head coach gave McNabb a public vote of confidence during the week, and his longtime signal-caller rewarded him with a very productive day under center.

  McNabb completed 20-of-28 passes for 251 yards and did not throw an interception, while adding a season-best 37 yards rushing on his surgically- repaired knee. The five-time Pro Bowl performer also fought through a sore shoulder, the result of a hard hit by Redskins safety LaRon Landry late in the first half.

  McNabb's second touchdown pass of the day was an eight-yard strike to L.J. Smith in the third quarter, the oft-injured tight end's first score since Week 14 of last season. That also came against Washington at FedEx Field.

  Smith finished with season-bests of four receptions and 49 receiving yards.

  DEFENSIVE SHUFFLE

  Reid hinted after last week's lopsided home loss to Dallas that changes could be in store, and a notable one was made on the defensive line for the Washington game. Pass-rush specialist Juqua Thomas started at left end in place of Jevon Kearse, with rookie Victor Abiamiri also receiving an increased role in the rotation.

  Kearse, a three-time Pro Bowl selection with Tennessee who had started all 39 games in which he had played since joining the Eagles as a free agent in 2004, did not play the entire first quarter and recorded only one assisted tackle for the game. That stop was a big one, though, as he teamed with fellow end Darren Howard to take down Portis for a one-yard loss on Philadelphia's key late defensive stand.

  William James was also supplanted by Joselio Hanson as the team's nickel back for the second half, after the former was burned by a couple of long catches by ex-Eagle James Thrash in the second quarter.

  NEXT UP

  The Eagles will try to put together back-to-back victories for the first time this year, when the winless Miami Dolphins make their first-ever appearance at Lincoln Financial Field this Sunday. Miami will enter the contest having lost 12 consecutive games dating back to last season, and came up short end this past week, dropping a 13-10 decision to Buffalo.

  The teams will be meeting for the first time since December 15, 2003, when the Eagles posted a 34-27 triumph in Miami. Philadelphia also won its last matchup with the Dolphins while at home, a 35-28 victory at the old Veterans Stadium in 1996.

  11/13 16:43:56 ET