After getting beat on several long pass plays to Terrell Owens against the Dallas Cowboys on September 15, it was widely debated whether Eagles’ veteran safety Brian Dawkins had lost a step or two at the ripe old age of 34. The Eagles’ defense as a whole was ravaged by the Cowboys’ potent offense, giving up 41 points on the night.

During the week, B-Dawk gave an impassioned defense of his skills.

“I told you guys – I understand how it works,” said Dawkins. “You get a certain age, every play that I’m not making this year from here on out, it’s going to be the same way – ‘he’s getting old.’ I can’t worry about that.”

As Dawkins has done his entire career, he backed up his words with his play of the field.

After not recording a single sack against Tony Romo, the Eagles defense got to Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger eight times, including six times in the second quarter. At one point, Roethlisberger was sacked on five consecutive plays. Big Ben also fumbled the ball twice and was intercepted once. Dawkins alone had seven tackles, including two for losses, a sack, and one forced fumble.

The defensive highlight of the night came in the fourth quarter on a third-and-15. With just 3 1/2 minutes left to play and the Eagles up by less than a touchdown, Roethlisberger dropped back to pass. Dawkins blitzed Roethlisberger with Steelers’ guard Kendall Simmons in his way. Instead of going around the guard, or through him, Dawkins launched himself over Simmons, coming down and striking the ball out of Roethlisberger’s hands, forcing the quarterback’s second fumble of the game. Dawkins looked much like the superhero Wolverine, whom he has plastered all over his locker. Dawkins immediately jumped onto the loose football, essentially sealing the game for the Birds. Several plays later, kicker David Akers would add to his franchise high points total with a nail in the coffin field goal.

“I don’t know what a 34-year-old is supposed to feel like or play like. I just know I had to get to Ben; he was scrambling, and I had to make the play . . . As I got off the [initial] block the back tried to block me,” Dawkins said. “I pushed him back, saw Ben trying to step up, I knew I had to get to him, and I felt somebody at my feet. The next thing I knew, I was in the air. I knew I knocked [the ball] out. I didn’t know where it landed . . . basically, it was right up under me. I just had to cradle it in.”

Was it all the talk over his age that inspired the aggressive play Sunday? Or was it just Dawkins being Dawkins? Either way, it’s obvious that B-Dawk still has it. Need more proof? Dawk will be named NFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday for his play against the Steelers. It’s the third time in his career Dawkins has received the honor.