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Manning to face McNabb-less Eagles on Sunday night

Nov 22, 2006 - 12:16 AM Philadelphia (5-5) at Indianapolis (9-1) Sunday 8:15 pm EST

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Peyton Manning was expected to duel Donovan McNabb for a third time in his career.

However, the anticipated matchup will not take place when Manning and the Indianapolis Colts host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.

A five-time Pro Bowl quarterback, McNabb suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in the Eagles' 31-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans last week.

McNabb had entered last Sunday's game tied with Manning for the league lead with 18 touchdown passes and was second with 2,569 passing yards.

Losing McNabb is a crushing blow for the Eagles, who have lost four of their last five games following a 4-1 start.

Eagles coach Andy Reid will turn to Jeff Garcia in McNabb's absence. When McNabb suffered a broken leg in 2002, Feeley went 4-1 as the starter down the stretch.

McNabb also missed the final seven games last season with a sports hernia. Philadelphia went 2-5 with Mike McMahon filling in for McNabb.

Garcia completed 26-of-48 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown after replacing McNabb last week.

With McNabb gone, Reid should rely more on his running game, something he usually fails to do. Brian Westbrook, who faces the NFL's last-ranked rush defense, is coming off consecutive 100-yard games.

Trying to rebound after losing McNabb, the Eagles could not be catching the Colts at a worse time.

Indianapolis had its bid for a perfect season come to an end with last week's 21-14 loss at Dallas. The Colts were the only team in NFL history to start 9-0 in consecutive seasons after they went 13-0 last year before their first loss.

Manning also will be looking to bounce from a rare game in which he struggled. He completed 20-of-39 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions against the Cowboys.

A six-time Pro Bowler, Manning has faced the Eagles twice in his career, leading the Colts to a pair of wins by a lopsided 79-30. He has dissected defensive coordinator Jim Johnson's aggressive schemes, completing 34-of-49 passes for 554 yards and six touchdowns without an interception.

The Colts are 5-0 at home, with three of the wins coming by a total of nine points.

Indianapolis, which is tied with Chicago for the NFL's best record, leads Baltimore (8-2) and San Diego (8-2) in the race for the AFC's top mark.