Eagles-Chargers scouting report

Recent history: The Eagles defeated the Chargers at the Linc on Oct. 23, 2005, 20-17. San Diego leads the series, 5-4.

OFFENSE

Eagles 24, Bears 20

Chargers 31, Eagles 23

Cowboys 20, Eagles 16

 

Eagles: 338.5 yards per game (15th)

Chargers: 335.4 yards per game (17th)

Quarterback

 

Eagles: Donovan McNabb's been all over the map this season. He's had two games with 140-plus passer ratings (wins over Bucs and Giants) and two with sub-70 ratings (losses to Raiders and Cowboys). He's 29th in the league in fourth-quarter passing (51.6 completion percentage, 5.13 yards-per-attempt).

Chargers: With an unproductive ground game that is averaging just 3.1 yards, Chargers have become a throwing team, and Philip Rivers has responded. He's thrown 11 TD passes and just three INTs in the last five games. He's playing with a lot of confidence. His receivers know if they get open, he'll get the ball to them.

PICK: CHARGERS

Running back

 

Eagles: Injuries to Brian Westbrook have forced the Eagles to lean on rookie LeSean McCoy much more than they expected. McCoy is averaging 4.2 yards per carry, but has a tendency to dance too much. Westbrook, once one of the game's best pass-catching backs, is averaging just 7.6 yards per catch.

Chargers: LaDainian Tomlinson isn't the same player he was before his knee injury and neither is his line. He's averaging just 3.2 yards per carry and has had more than 20 carries just once this season. Darren Sproles will get 6 to 8 touches from scrimmage and can hurt you in space.

PICK: EAGLES

Receiver

 

Eagles: DeSean Jackson is the Eagles' most dangerous receiving weapon. But with defenses starting to double and bracket him, Donovan McNabb is going away from him. He's had more than five passes thrown in his direction just once in the last five games. The Cowboys had success jamming rookie Jeremy Maclin at the line.

Chargers: The Chargers have three big wideouts, who pose matchup problems for smaller corners. Vincent Jackson (6-5, 230) has developed into one of the league's top wideouts. He has great size, outstanding speed and good hands. TE Antonio Gates has a basketball player's feel for positioning.

PICK: CHARGERS