PHILADELPHIA – As the Giants chase the NFC East crown, every player – on the Giants and their opponents – knows who the key to the Big Blue attack down the stretch will be: No. 21.

But even with defenses concentrating on stopping him, Tiki Barber rolls on. The running back rushed for 124 yards yesterday, tying his career high with 32 carries. He added 71 receiving yards on five catches, including one for a touchdown in the Giants’ 26-23 overtime victory over the Eagles.

Barber knows he could be central to the Giants winning the division during the next three weeks. He welcomes the challenge.

“That’s what I’m here for,” Barber said. “As it gets colder and we start playing the tougher defenses that we have the last few weeks, we’re going to have to run the ball and get tough yardage. My team, my teammates, the coaching staff rely on me to do that and not be any kind of liability and I haven’t been. It makes me feel good that I’m helping my team win.”

Barber’s performance yesterday followed a 115-yard rushing performance against the Cowboys a week ago. Barber carried the ball 30 times in that game. He now has 1,357 rushing yards this season.

He carried the load again yesterday for Big Blue, as he got the Giants on the board in the first quarter on a 4-yard touchdown grab from Manning. Barber caught the ball just before the goal line and got a push from center Shaun O’Hara to get into the end zone.

His biggest play of the day also came on a reception. On the last play of the third quarter, Barber took a short pass from Manning and went 32 yards to the Eagles’ 23-yard line, setting up a Jay Feely field goal.