Peterson, who led the NFL in yards from scrimmage and touches in his second NFL season, may be on to something in this great Westbrook debate, which has been ongoing since the Eagles star became the team's featured running back in 2004.
Westbrook touched the ball at least 30 times in only one game this season, and it was the Eagles' signature 20-14 win over the New York Giants at the Meadowlands. He carried the football 33 times for 131 yards and a touchdown and caught six passes for 72 yards and a touchdown.
That game and that game plan are why some people say the Eagles, although fortunate even to be playing in Sunday's wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, may stick around a while in the postseason.
Westbrook's touches have almost always told an interesting story during his career, and this season was no different. When he touched the ball at least 20 times, the Eagles went 7-0. When he touched it fewer than 20, they were 2-6-1, and those two wins are deceiving because Westbrook got the ball 19 times in a lopsided victory over the Cleveland Browns and 15 times in Sunday's rout of the Dallas Cowboys. In both games, he was resting on the sideline before it was over.
To be fair, there were times this season when the Eagles couldn't use Westbrook as much as they wanted because he was slowed at various times by a high ankle sprain, fractured ribs and knee swelling.
"He played with a lot of injuries that would have kept other guys on the bench," said Merrill Reese, the Eagles' veteran play-by-play radio man. "I really think he's a warrior. I think the fact that he didn't have another 1,000-yard [rushing] season was more reflective of the fact he was beaten up than anything else. But I still think he's this team's No. 1 weapon."
