He was the forgotten veteran, the one that could have ridden off into the sunset without anyone noticing.
Instead, running back Correll Buckhalter helped carry the Eagles into the playoffs.
Buckhalter logged 10 carries for a game-high 63 yards and caught three balls for 59 yards and a touchdown as the Eagles crushed the Dallas Cowboys, 44-6, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.
That win coupled with losses by the Bears and Buccaneers earlier in the day secured a playoff berth for the Eagles. Not like that was on Buckhalter's mind before the game started or anything. Photo Gallery : DAL VS. PHI 12-28-08
"We didn't think about (that), I know I didn't," Buckhalter said. "Me and (Brian) Westbrook, we didn't even talk about it. We just talked about going out on that field and scoring against the Cowboys.
"We didn't worry about what Tampa was going to do or Chicago or anybody else. We took it upon ourselves to go out on that field and play some football, play some Eagles football, and that's what we did."
It wasn't the number of Buckhalter's touches that was impressive as much as what he did with those chances.
"We had certain plays where we were just going to put him in," head coach Andy Reid said. "We wanted to keep a natural rotation going there. That's how we went about it."
Buckhalter had the longest running play of the game when he scampered for 33 yards late in the third quarter and the Eagles holding a 44-3 lead. It helped secure a first down and kept the clock moving.
"You just have to be ready," Buckhalter said. "You never know when your number is going to be called. But if you're ready and your number's called, you can make plays. That's just the approach that I take every week."
He also had the longest pass reception of the game as well. With the game tied 3-3, quarterback Donovan McNabb hit Buckhalter with a short pass out in the right flat.
Buckhalter caught the pass and rumbled 59 yards from the Eagles' 35 down to the Dallas 6-yard line. Two plays later, McNabb snuck in from 1-yard out to give the Eagles a lead they would never relinquish.
"The play was designed to get chips on the defensive end to get them out of their pass rush," Buckhalter said. "After I did that, I saw Donovan scrambling so I just made a play."
Buckhalter, who only had one touch in last week's loss at Washington, made the most of his 13 touches against Dallas.
"That's what I try to do," Buckhalter said. "Prepare myself through the week and come out here on Sunday and try to have fun. No matter how many touches I get, when I get them I try to make the most of them.
"I want to do more. I'm never satisfied. I take (it) upon myself to contribute more and more when given the opportunity."
He'll have another chance to contribute in the playoffs against Minnesota next Sunday at 4:30 PM.
