Finding Westbrook: the Eagles had hoped Brian Westbrook could strike every which way, but the Patriots kept him in check.

This was supposed to be the Super Bowl version of Where's Waldo? Instead of the odd-looking bespectacled chum in the red stocking cap, the mobile man in green with the No. 36 on his jersey was supposed to be the focus of attention. He was the one the Patriots would need to keep track of in order to clutch their third Lombardi Trophy in four years.

Brian Westbrook, the Eagles' third-year running back who gained 1,515 yards from scrimmage (812 rushing, 703 receiving) this season, moves around like a guy on the lam. One time, he'll line up as a conventional tailback. Next time, he'll go in motion. Then he'll line up in the slot, or split out wide or in a 1-by-1 position--in other words, 1 yard over and 1 yard behind the offensive tackle. Now you see Westbrook, now you don't.

"He's not just in one spot," Patriots outside linebacker Willie McGinest said during Super Bowl week. "So when you break the huddle, you definitely have to know where he is."

But, Bill Belichick, as usual, mucked up things. The Patriots' coach decided to change the name of the game from "Where's Westbrook?" to "Where's the 3-4?" Instead of using its usual defensive scheme, New England morphed into a 4-3 look during most of Super Bowl 39. The Patriots reasoned that by using a four-man front, with one and sometimes two linebackers on the line, they could generate more of a pass rush on Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and take the outside edge away from Westbrook.

"The whole thing this week was McNabb, then Westbrook," said Patriots inside linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who estimated the Patriots played a 4-3 defense about 97 percent of the time during New England's 24-21 victory. "McNabb was No. 1, and Westbrook was No. 2."

Three years ago, when they won their first Super Bowl, the Patriots made life miserable for Rams running back Marshall Faulk by consistently hitting him and denying him a free release when he went out on pass patterns. They weren't as physical with Westbrook; several times, he circled out on short or intermediate pass routes and found vacancies in New England's zone defense. But except for a 10-yard touchdown reception that made the score 14-14 late in the third quarter, Westbrook was contained.

He found scant running room, especially between the tackles--where the Patriots' four-man line filled most of the gaps--and was only moderately successful in a receiving role. He finished with 44 yards on 15 carries and 60 yards on seven catches.