CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The longer Carolina linebacker Mike Barrow watched film of the Philadelphia Eagles, the more obvious it became.

Barrow's eyes told him the team in green, white and silver jerseys was the Eagles. His heart told him it could have just as easily been the blue, white and silver of the Panthers.

"I saw a team that's in a lot of ways similar to us," Barrow said. "They're a team that's just looking for that break, for that momentum to shift, so they can come out on top."

Both teams have been plagued by an inability to execute late in games this season. The results have been nearly identical: Philadelphia has lost four games by a touchdown or less, Carolina has lost three by the same margin, and both teams have just two victories heading into their contest Sunday at Ericsson Stadium.

In terms of momentum, however, Philadelphia might have an edge. The Eagles (2-6) lost in overtime to the New York Giants last week, but before that, Philadelphia won two of three.

Carolina (2-5) has lost three of four and has been struggling for more than two years at home. The Panthers are 5-14 at their downtown Charlotte stadium since the start of the 1997 season, including 1-2 this year.

"Far be it for us to take anybody or anything for granted," Panthers cornerback Eric Davis said. "They're coming in here saying they've got a shot to win. They've won two out of their last four. We haven't. And we need a win much worse than anybody in their locker room that I can think of."

The Panthers are coming off a 27-20 loss at Atlanta in which Steve Beuerlein was under almost constant pressure. He was sacked six times, intercepted three times and lost two fumbles, raising questions whether Carolina might fare better with one of its other three quarterbacks, all of whom are more mobile.

Coach George Seifert, however, said Beuerlein isn't the problem. Seifert pointed to injuries that have sidelined guard Matt Campbell, the Panthers' best lineman, and tailback Tshimanga Biakabutuka, their top rusher. Seifert said the absence of the two players, who are likely to miss Sunday's game, means Beuerlein has been under pressure to shoulder a greater burden. The coach said the Panthers have added to that by calling plays that test the limits of Beuerlein's mobility.

"Steve's done a good job," Seifert said. "We've got to block for him and we've got to call the right plays for him."

Philadelphia coach Andy Reid also has come under fire for his stance on quarterbacks. In Reid's case, he has elected to stick with journeyman Doug Pederson and give just sporadic playing time to Donovan McNabb, the second overall pick in this year's draft.

Reid said McNabb is gaining valuable seasoning in the Eagles' West Coast-style offense while playing behind Pederson, and the coach sees no reason to change the rotation anytime soon.

What Reid would like to change is Philadelphia's inability to make big plays, especially late in games. The Eagles haven't scored more than 20 points since the opening week, and last Sunday they allowed the Giants to rally from 14 points down in the fourth quarter and win 23-17 in overtime.

"We literally have to learn how to play a complete game," Reid said.

One player Reid can't fault is Duce Staley, who has reached the 100-yard mark three times on the way to rushing for 602 yards, fifth in the NFL.

Staley has the added incentive this week of playing in front of a large contingent of friends and relatives. A native of Columbia, S.C., who was a standout for South Carolina, Staley rounded up more than 60 tickets for Sunday's sold-out game.

"It's going to be fun. It's almost going to be like my days at South Carolina," he said. "You've got to kind of put that on the back burner while you're playing the game, but it's going to be hard."

Reid hopes Staley benefits from playing less than 80 miles from home.

"You see it on the other side, too," Reid said. "Sometimes they get so caught up in their surroundings with family and all that, it becomes a distraction and they don't do so well."

Staley said he and his teammates have plenty of incentive to prevent that from happening.

"Everybody's still positive," he said. "We're still working hard and believing we can make some good things happen with this team."

PHILADELPHIA Season schedule and results

CAROLINA Season schedule and results

September 12 Arizona L 24-25 September 19 Tampa Bay L 5-19 September 26 @Buffalo L 0-26 October 3 @NY Giants L 15-16 October 10 Dallas W 13-10 October 17 @Chicago W 20-16 October 24 @Miami L 13-16 October 31 NY Giants L 17-23 November 7 @Carolina 1:00pm ET November 14 Washington 1:00pm ET November 21 Indianapolis 1:00pm ET November 28 @Washington 1:00pm ET December 5 @Arizona 4:05pm ET December 12 @Dallas 1:00pm ET December 19 New England 1:00pm ET January 2 St. Louis 1:00pm ET

September 12 @New Orleans L 10-19 September 19 Jacksonville L 20-22 September 26 Cincinnati W 27-3 October 3 @Washington L 36-38 October 17 @San Francisco W 31-29 October 24 Detroit L 9-24 October 31 @Atlanta L 20-27 November 7 Philadelphia 1:00pm ET November 14 @St. Louis 1:00pm ET November 21 @Cleveland 1:00pm ET November 28 Atlanta 8:20pm ET December 5 St. Louis 1:00pm ET December 12 @Green Bay 1:00pm ET December 18 San Francisco 4:15pm ET December 26 @Pittsburgh 1:00pm ET January 2 New Orleans 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

Copyright 1999 STATS, Inc. Commercial distribution without the express written consent of STATS is prohibited.