PHILADELPHIA - Suggest to Brian Westbrook that the Eagles could benefit from a better run-pass balance, and his response might be summed up as follows:

Hey, man, you're preaching to the choir.

Meanwhile, the readings are still chosen from the Book of Andrew, in which it is written, "Thou shalt pass on first down, second down and third down. Thou shalt pass on third-and-1. And thou shalt pass even more against the Bengals, even though their run defense dwells near the bottom of the league.''

"We talk about it all the time, about 'we want to run the ball.' But at the same time, he is the coach,'' Westbrook said Wednesday. "It's hard for us to change his mind, but I think that if we had more success early on during the game, that would definitely change his mind.''

"He,'' of course, is Andy Reid, a man whose passing inclination has come under even greater fire than usual this season, as his offense has devolved into a hodgepodge with pretty numbers but fatal flaws, particularly in short-yardage situations.

Last Sunday's loss to - er, tie with the Cincinnati Bengals was reviewed as a new low for the Reid Plan, which produced a 3-for-18 travesty on third down. It was also noted that on none of those third downs, including three third-and-1 situations, did the Eagles call a running play.

At the same time, Donovan McNabb was asked to throw 58 passes. He completed 28, plus three more to the Bengals, and lost a fumble on what began as a pass play. McNabb's turnovers led to 10 of Cincinnati's 13 points.

So Coach, any concern that the offense might be a little too predictable?

"When teams, I guess, tie or beat you, they say those things,'' Reid said Wednesday. "It sounds good to you (reporters). I don't worry about that. I check out what we do and make sure we don't give any tendency there.''

If the numbers mean anything, Sunday's trip to Baltimore (1 p.m., FOX) offers slim prospects for change. The Ravens, coached by Reid's former lieutenant John Harbaugh, are third in the league against the run (79.6 yards per game). They're also third in total defense (267.9), which doesn't sound like a walk in the park for McNabb, either.

Complicating the issue for Westbrook are nagging injuries. He has lost nearly two full games to a high ankle sprain and another to bruised ribs. He made it clear Wednesday that he does not expect to be fully healthy again this season.

Though he has grown accustomed to playing with pain since his first knee injury sustained in high school, Westbook explained Wednesday that the ankle sprain, suffered Sept. 21 against Pittsburgh, is a greater challenge.

"With the ankle injury, it's a little tougher just because it's harder to cut and harder to do the things that I'm able to do; make people miss, and some of that,'' he said. "It's a little bit different as opposed to the knee, which I've been dealing with for 10 years now. It's a little bit tougher with the ankle because it gets healthy enough to play in the game, and then during the game, you basically re-injure it again.''

There is also the absence of Pro Bowl guard Shawn Andrews (back) to consider. But Westbrook's aches and pains should create opportunity for Correll Buckhalter, who has had all of three carries in the last two weeks. Or Lorenzo Booker, who was projected as a backup with Westbrook's big-play potential, but can't get on the field.

Yet while Westbrook reminds everyone that he doesn't call the plays, he quickly adds that in his estimation, the mounting criticism of both Reid and McNabb is not justified.

"This team has to take some responsibility, and if we take that on our shoulders and handle it the proper way, we'll have some success,'' he said. "You can't blame two people in a team game for the success or failure of the team.''