In what was thought to be a trust test, going up against a vaunted defensive line and the number one ranked defense in the NFL, the Eagles' offensive line passed with flying colors.

The sometimes-maligned unit, which had Todd Herremans back for his second game this season at left guard, gave Donovan McNabb plenty of time to throw the ball and created a slew of holes for both Leonard Weaver and LeSean McCoy in the 40-17 win over the New York Giants.

"The offensive line takes a lot of criticism for everything that goes on around here, but they did a great job today," said fullback Leonard Weaver, who burst through the line and scampered into the endzone for a 41-yard touchdown run on the opening drive. "They opened up big holes today.

"You have to give kudos to them today because they made it easy to see those holes because they were really big. I tell you, we saw the holes and we hit them hard."

"I thought the (offensive line) was solid in both phases, in their pass-blocking and run-blocking," said head coach Andy Reid.

So what was it that made the run game so effective against the Giants, a team that was leading the league in fewest yards allowed coming into the game?

"I think it was just the coaches coming in with the mindset that, we have to run the ball," said starting center Jamaal Jackson. "That was just the focal point all week; let's not get away from the running game. They did a good job of calling the running plays in the right spots."

"If you call a play more, we're going to get it going," said left tackle Jason Peters. "Sometimes it doesn't work and coaches go away from it, but we stayed at it today and we popped the big one. Both McCoy and Weaver popped one and we got 14 points out of it.

"We were just putting a hat on a hat. I have to go back and look at the film as to why it worked this week and not the previous weeks, but just trying to get McCoy (and Weaver) into the groove, get them the ball some and open it up. We're going to pass the ball obviously and that opened up the pass a little bit more."

The reintroduction of Herremans has also made a big difference.

"We got Todd back and he's a big key to our offensive line," said Peters. "Any time you get your starting offensive linemen back obviously it's going to help, so that's a big part of it right now.

"I don't think (Herremans) is 100 percent, but he's playing. As weeks go on, he's going to get back to 100. I'm not healthy, but anything to get out there and get a win, I can still go. As the weeks go on, we can only get stronger and stronger."

And although Peters was hesitant to proclaim the performance flawless for the offensive line, he did allow one sack to Osi Umenyiora, he said the victory is one the team can be proud of.

"I wouldn't say (it was our) best game," Peters said. "But as a whole, we put up 40 points. I don't know if we've put up 40 points this year, but that's a great win putting up 40 points on the Giants."

-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 4:44 p.m., November 2