There's an unwritten rule in comedy that you can poke fun at a certain race or ethnic group as long as you're a part of said race or ethnic group.

It is the same way in football: You can laugh at your own play-calling as long as you're the play-caller. It also helps if said play-calling is working.

So when Marty Mornhinweg was asked Sunday about his commitment to the running game in the Eagles' 27-24 comeback win over Washington, the offensive coordinator was self-deprecating. Told he ran the ball on the first play of the Eagles' game-winning drive, the normally pass-happy Mornhinweg responded, "You're kidding me? We ran on first [down]?"

They did, and gained 12 yards when LeSean McCoy zipped through a hole as wide as the rookie's postgame smile. The Eagles were so impressed with themselves they ran it again on first down, this time with Leonard Weaver picking up a respectable 5 yards.

On the next play, however, the Eagles went to the air, with Donovan McNabb hooking up with Jeremy Maclin for 35 yards. Whether or not the long completion was a result of the first two rushes, the Eagles were in field goal range.

The Eagles' final point-producing possession wasn't the only example of Mornhinweg and coach Andy Reid uncharacteristically calling on their ground game. On their opening two series, the Eagles ran the ball eight times out of 17 plays on the way to 10 points. Despite a languid offense that failed to procure a first down on the first four drives of the second half, Reid and Mornhinweg didn't abandon the run. And on a pivotal third-and-2 during the game-tying drive, the Eagles actually (gasp!) called a successful run play.

"We felt like it was effective, and what they were playing against us, we thought we could have a little success with that," Reid said yesterday.

The Eagles gained 123 yards on 29 carries. If you subtract two McNabb end-of-the game kneels, however, the offense ran it 27 times for 125 yards at 4.6 yards a carry. There wasn't a long gainer among the totes that padded the yardage. The longest run was a 19-yarder.

By comparison, the Eagles called 38 pass plays, giving them almost the same run-pass ratio that they had in last week's victory over the Bears (a 58-42 split). In the Eagles' first nine games of the season, the split was 65-35.

The same five offensive linemen played all 60 minutes for the second straight week.

"I'm sure that helps," Reid said. "The communication is better."

On the Eagles' opening drive, McCoy darted 19 yards through a gaping lane provided by left tackle Jason Peters, pulling left guard Todd Herremans, and tight end Brent Celek. Several plays later, Weaver went right for 18 yards, rumbling through a gap opened by center Jamaal Jackson and right guard Nick Cole.

Weaver's push advanced the Eagles to first-and-goal on the 10, but they strayed from their tailbacks and threw the ball on first, third and a fourth down that was nullified by penalty. On second down, Michael Vick ran 4 yards down to the 1.

On the Eagles' second possession, they went for it on fourth-and-1. The line got enough push and Weaver dived over the pile for a first down. The longest carry of the touchdown-scoring drive was a 5-yarder from McCoy, who could have walked the distance behind Peters.

There were hits and misses on the offense's next three drives, but the Eagles stuck with ground game - for the most part. When they advanced inside the Washington 20 after two McCoy runs produced a first down, the Eagles went pass-pass-pass-field goal.

The Eagles had no first downs in their first four series of the second half, but still called three run plays out of 11. Early in the fourth quarter, trailing by 24-16, they reverted to Air Andy, throwing on the first five plays.

But once deep inside Washington territory, the Eagles pounded the ground. On third-and-2 on the Redskins' 16, McCoy cut behind a Jackson block for the first down. Weaver used a Celek block to get 12 yards to the 1.

Eldra Buckley then scored on third down even though he had been stopped two times previously - once because Washington had 12 men on the field. Peters led the way. The Eagles ran in Peters' direction again on the first play of their ensuing drive when Mornhinweg surprised even himself and called McCoy's number.

"Did we get anything out of it?" Mornhinweg joked.

Contact staff writer Jeff McLane at 215-854-4745 or jmclane@phillynews.com.