Andy Reid chilled during the Eagles’ bye weekend. The big guy was on the sideline in S... Birds regroup before Bolts strik

The big guy was on the sideline in South Bend, Ind., Saturday watching good buddy Charlie Weis call plays for Notre Dame in its epic showdown with No. 1 Southern California. Despite some great play selections by Weis, the Fighting Irish were beaten, 34-31, in the final seconds. It was the 28th straight victory for the Trojans.

Reid could use a winning streak. Dating to last season, his Eagles are 5-5 in their last 10 starts, including a 33-10 pre-bye loss to the Dallas Cowboys in which his team did almost nothing well.

While the Eagles caught their breath over the weekend, the NFC East landscape changed. The Cowboys (4-2) emerged as the leaders after defeating the New York Giants in overtime. The Washington Redskins were beaten at Kansas City, leaving the rest of the division at 3-2. Factor in tiebreakers and the four-time defending East champion Eagles are last in the division, ninth in the conference -- and out of the playoffs.

Though it’s early to sound the death knell, this is a key week for the Eagles. Team leaders -- including safety Brian Dawkins -- have questioned their devotion and attention to detail. Their next opponent, the San Diego Chargers, has the kind of multi-pronged attack that’s given them headaches.

The Chargers offense starts with record-setting running back LaDainian Tomlinson, continues with phenomenal tight end Antonio Gates and is held together by heady quarterback Drew Brees.

The Chargers score points in a hurry, and the Eagles recently are giving them up in bunches, having trailed 17-0 in each of their last two games.

"There’s some glaring things that have to be fixed," Dawkins said, declining to be specific. "When we look at the film, just be honest with yourself. See what it is you’re doing and what you’re not doing. It’s in your preparation. There’s something in your preparation that you were doing early that you’re not doing now that you need to get back to doing. Those are things we need to do as a team. And I’m talking about the team -- defense, special teams and offense."

The Chargers (3-3) are in the midst of four games in a five-game stretch against teams fresh from a bye week. Their opponents Sunday, the Oakland Raiders, and next Sunday, the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field, both had two weeks to prepare for the Bolts.

Dawkins, after the Cowboys loss, at first tried to shrug it off as one bad game in a long season. The more he spoke, the more obvious was his concern, particularly with the way the defense has performed.

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