For the Eagles: Hopes for Success Rely on the Health of Brian Westbrook

The All-Pro running back Brian Westbrook is the most essential element for the Eagles if they hope to be a SuperBowl contender this year. 

Currently, Westbrook is day to day with a strained right ankle he suffered while hurdling a teammate on a 2-yard run on the first play of the second quarter of Sunday's 15-6 win over Pittsburgh.

But don't the Eagles have Correll Buckhalter?  Don't worry, you don't have to answer that.

Bottom line: Without its top offensive player healthy and on field, the Eagles cannot compete for the big prize.  This is true of any team in the NFL, just take a look at the Patriots. 

As for Westbrook, he is that rare player that does it all, he led the Eagles last year in rushing yards but was also the team's top wide receiver.  Translation: Westbrook = NFL's biggest double threat.

Westbrook's ability to spread defenses and frustrate linebackers and secondaries is legendary.  If that wasn't enough, he can make magic happen when lined up as a wide receiver or when returning punts. 

Brian Westbrook is the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Yes, Donovan McNabb is arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now and is having a year similar to his 2004 campaign in which he led the Eagles to their first SuperBowl appearance in 24 years.  But it's always Westbrook that makes Donovan and the team better. 

You saw that fumble against the Cowboys on Monday Night, and more importantly, what occured in the final 9 seconds of SuperBowl XXXIX, in both instances, unfortunate plays by McNabb sealed the victory for the opposing team.

So ask yourself, who do you trust with the ball when the game is on the line?

There is no question that Donovan and the Eagles are running on all cylinders as a team, but the team's ability to get through tough situations will rely on the play of Westbrook. 

In the first two games of the season, the Eagles scored over 30 points each and even though they lost to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, they lost because of errors on offense, not because Dallas was the better team.

This past Sunday's game against the Steelers would have had a very different outcome, if it was not for the play of the Eagles' defense and punter.  And why do you think the Eagles did not rack up the points on a team they were better matched against? 

The primary reason is the biggest threat in the NFL, Brian Westbrook, was sidelined and the offense really could not put any scores on the board. 

So with that said, the Eagles fans should be praying to the football gods for a speedy Westbrook recovery, because without him, this could be a long season and the Eagle's offense will find themselves being on the bottom of NFL's toughest division, the NFC East.  

The test for the Eagles will come this Sunday night against a potentially scary Bears defense.  If Westbrook plays and holds up to the abuse, the tensions amongst the faithful fans will ease and hearts will fill with joy in hopes of great things.

Till then, all eyes will be on Westbrook's ankle.