When Team Matters the Most

Read this and see what I mean.

Late in the Dallas-Philadelphia game, with the Eagles leading 10-6 and the Cowboys without any timeouts, Brian Westbrook broke through the Dallas line and was headed for a touchdown. Instead, he put on the brakes and went down at the one-yard line. The advice came from OT Jon Runyan, but Westbrook, a running back trained to go for the goal no matter what, was smart enough to heed it. The result was that the Eagles ran out the clock and won the game.

How many OTs would have thought about that? How many RBs would have taken the advice?

Not many.

In the age of glitz, what happened yesterday was special.

The Eagles' last 3 losses were by a total of 10 points. They've fared well in Dallas in recent years, played the best game that any opponent has against New England and beat Dallas yesterday. For those Eagles' fans who despair, they aren't that many players away from being a contender.

Yes, they have to be the right players. Game-breaking receivers, of course, are at the top of the list and have been for some time. Also, certainty is needed at the QB position.

Thankfully for Eagles fans, they have smarts at OT and great ability and brains at running back.

Sometimes you win by doing the smart thing, and the smart thing isn't always obvious.

The Eagles did just that yesterday, getting a good win on the road in an otherwise frustrating season.