By Tony Moss, NFL Editor -- The Philadelphia Eagles probably haven't felt much like the reigning NFC Champions in the days leading up to Sunday's matchup with the San Diego Chargers at Lincoln Financial Field. Andy Reid's team dropped a 33-10 decision to the arch rival Cowboys in Week 5, and had an extra seven days to hear about their weaknesses, perceived or otherwise, since that embarrassing defeat.

Philadelphia will return to the field on Sunday sitting in a three-way tie for second place in the NFC East, along with the Giants and Redskins. All three are a half-game back of division-leading Dallas, who will travel to Seattle in Week 7. The Eagles will be seeking to not only keep pace in the rugged division race, but also to erase the remnants of the debacle in Big D.

San Diego, meanwhile, will be vying to maintain the momentum achieved in last week's 27-14 win in Oakland. Marty Schottenheimer's Bolts are now 2-1 away from Qualcomm Stadium in 2005, and will be vying for a road sweep of last year's Super Bowl participants. The Chargers, who are currently two games back of AFC West-leading Denver, were 41-17 winners in New England during Week 4.

SERIES HISTORY

San Diego has a 5-3 edge in its all-time series with Philadelphia, but was a 24-14 road loser when the teams last met, at Veterans Stadium in 2001. The Chargers last posted a win in the series in 1998 at home, and last won in Philly during the 1995 campaign.

Schottenheimer is 4-1 in his career against the Eagles, including 1-0 while with Cleveland (1984-88), 2-0 while with Kansas City (1989-98), and 1-1 while with Washington (2001). The Eagles' Reid is 1-0 versus the Chargers as a head coach, and is 1-1 head-to-head against Schottenheimer.

CHARGERS OFFENSE VS. EAGLES DEFENSE

San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson (652 rushing yards, 18 receptions, 11 TD) added yet another mind-boggling performance to his resume' in last week's win over the Raiders. Tomlinson rushed 31 times for 140 yards and a touchdown, caught two passes for 39 yards and a score, and threw a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Justin Peelle in the second quarter. Tomlinson has now accounted for 13 touchdowns in 2005, including 10 on the ground, one as a receiver, and two as a passer. Backup Michael Turner (119 rushing yards) spelled Tomlinson for 50 yards on seven carries in the Oakland win, and is now averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Fullback Lorenzo Neal (41 rushing yards, 8 receptions) had a team-high four receptions against Oakland, netting 27 yards. Running back/kick returner Darren Sproles (41 rushing yards, 2 receptions), who was inactive last week with an ankle injury, is questionable for Sunday. For the year, San Diego ranks fourth in the league in rushing offense (148.2 yards per game).

The group attempting to slow Tomlinson in the run game comes into Sunday's game ranked just 23rd in the league in rushing defense (118 yards per game). Dallas managed to pound the run for 167 yards against Philadelphia in Week 5, including 75 on 20 carries for the previously anonymous Tyson Thompson. Linebackers Jeremiah Trotter (30 tackles), Dhani Jones (29 tackles, 1 INT) and Keith Adams (21 tackles) will have to keep a watchful eye on Tomlinson in both the running and passing games. Trotter had a game-high-tying nine tackles against Dallas. Up front, tackles Hollis Thomas (15 tackles) and Mike Patterson (15 tackles) have both played reasonably well in '05 to date, Thomas, who leads Eagles linemen in stops, had seven tackles against the Cowboys.

With Tomlinson up to his old tricks, it was easy to overlook the fine work done by Chargers quarterback Drew Brees (1206 passing yards, 8 TD, 4 INT) last week. Brees was 14-of-20 for 164 yards and a touchdown in Oakland, with the scoring strike coming on a 35-yard catch-and-run by Tomlinson. Brees upped his passer rating to an impressive 95.0 in the win. Only four of Brees' passes went to wide receivers, with No. 1 wideout Keenan McCardell (21 receptions, 5 TD) pacing that group with two catches for 20 yards. Tight end Antonio Gates (25 receptions, 2 TD) also had a quiet afternoon, notching two grabs for 17 yards, and was less productive than Peelle (7 receptions, 1 TD), who caught three passes for 20 yards and the aforementioned touchdown. The Charger line gave up two sacks in the game, and has now allowed a scant nine on the year. The Bolts are 22nd in the league in passing offense (192.7 yards per game) at present.

A generally well-regarded Eagles secondary allowed Dallas quarterback Drew Bledsoe to torch the team for 289 yards and three touchdowns in Week 5. Cornerbacks Lito Sheppard (17 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) and Sheldon Brown (15 tackles, 2 INT) both had their struggles, and safeties Brian Dawkins (24 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT) and Michael Lewis (31 tackles, 1 sack) failed to offer much in the way of big plays either. Lewis is Philadelphia's overall tackles leader heading into the San Diego game. Jim Johnson's defense had 11 sacks through its first four games, but could not get to Bledsoe for one in the Dallas loss. Dawkins and tackle Darwin Walker (7 tackles) are tied for the team lead with 2.5 sacks apiece, but Walker has not played since Week 2 due to a thigh contusion. Walker is listed as probable for this Sunday. Starting ends Jevon Kearse (7 tackles) and N.D. Kalu (13 tackles) have just one sack each through five games. Reid and company currently rank a modest 18th in the league against the pass (209 yards per game).

EAGLES OFFENSE VS. CHARGERS DEFENSE

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb (1464 passing yards, 11 TD, 3 INT) had a shaky outing against Dallas last time out, completing just 13-of-26 passes for 131 yards and throwing neither a touchdown nor an interception. McNabb's quiet day gave rise to more talk about the sports hernia that the signal-caller is battling with in order to take the field. Koy Detmer (108 passing yards) replaced McNabb late in the Dallas loss and completed 3-of-4 passes for 14 yards. Also quiet against the Cowboys was Pro Bowl wideout Terrell Owens (37 receptions, 4 TD), who had five receptions for 50 yards in a losing effort. Fellow receiver Greg Lewis (21 receptions, 1 TD) added three catches for 36 yards in the game, and tight end L.J. Smith (28 receptions, 2 TD) chipped in with two grabs for 22 yards. The Eagles line allowed McNabb to be sacked four times against Dallas, and has now surrendered 10 sacks on the year. Despite the below-average aerial effort against the Cowboys, Philly ranks first in the league in passing offense (307.2 yards per game).

McNabb and Owens will try to prey early and often upon a San Diego defense that ranks a distant 27th in the league against the pass (245.3 yards per game). The Chargers dodged a bullet when Oakland wideout Randy Moss went out early with a groin strain last week, but still allowed Raiders QB Kerry Collins to throw for 292 yards in the contest. With cornerbacks Drayton Florence (ankle) and Sammy Davis (ankle) both nursing injuries, Quentin Jammer (21 tackles) and Jamar Fletcher (5 tackles) will be asked to carry much of the pass-defending load. Each had four solo tackles in the game. Florence and Jammer are both listed as questionable for Sunday. Free safety Bhawoh Jue (26 tackles, 3 INT) tallied his team-leading third interception of the year in the game, and fellow safety Jerry Wilson (7 tackles) pitched in five tackles in his first extensive action of the season. The Charger pass rush sacked Collins four times, with end Igor Olshansky (10 tackles, 2 sacks) notching two of those. The other two sacks also came from linemen, as DeQuincy Scott (6 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Jacques Cesaire (9 tackles, 1 sack) broke through to Collins. Cesaire (shoulder) and fellow end Luis Castillo (hip) are both questionable for Sunday. Scott and outside linebacker Steve Foley are the Chargers' sack co-leaders, with 2.5 each.

Philadelphia enters Week 7 ranked dead last in the NFL in rushing offense (64.2 yards per game), and would undoubtedly like to get Pro Bowl running back Brian Westbrook (231 rushing yards, 25 receptions, 4 TD) untracked this week. Westbrook carried just six times for 12 yards against Dallas, before the Eagles fell behind and were forced to abandon the run. Westbrook also had three catches for 24 yards in the defeat, and is now second on the team behind Owens in receiving yards (292). Lamar Gordon (62 rushing yards, 6 receptions, 1 TD) has been used as the change-of-pace back behind Westbrook, but was limited to one carry for five yards versus Dallas.

The Chargers don't figure to worry much about the Philadelphia run game, but when the Eagles do run it, they will be going up against the No. 3-rated rushing defense (84.7 yards per game) in the NFL. San Diego limited the Raiders' LaMont Jordan to 36 yards on 12 carries last Sunday, with inside linebacker Donnie Edwards' eight tackles playing a prominent role in that effort. Edwards (65 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) leads the Bolts in tackles on the year. Fellow ILB Randall Godfrey (37 tackles), who had two stops against Oakland, ranks third on the team in tackles. In the trenches, nose tackle Jamal Williams (13 tackles) has provided his usual presence, and leads all San Diego linemen in stops in 2005.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Philadelphia has had two weeks to stew over the Dallas loss, while San Diego will be playing its second straight difficult road game in a row. Look for the Eagles to come out with more focus and fire than the Chargers, who will likely show the effects of playing too many emotional, physical games in a row. McNabb and Owens figure to have a big day in the passing game, and a speedy and experienced Philadelphia defense will do enough to limit Tomlinson and fuel an Eagle win.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Eagles 27, Chargers 20