PHILADELPHIA — If you look at the trends for Denver's first seven games, it should be very clear that the running back you should start Sunday against the Eagles is Mike Anderson.

But good luck.

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has given Anderson more of the carries during the last four weeks, but given just enough to Tatum Bell to aggravate owners of both players. In that span, Anderson averaged 18 carries per game to Bell's 12. Both are on pace for 1,000-yard seasons.

"They probably have four or five running plays at most, and they are committed to it," Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said.

The stats say the Eagles give up 101.8 rushing yards per game, good for 10th in the NFL. But, as fellow Philadelphia Daily News sports writer Bob Cooney points out, there's a huge disparity in the Birds' run defense at home and on the road.

Philadelphia, which visits Denver for the first time since 1998, is giving up an average of 170.3 yards to road opponents, 33.3 to those who come to the Linc.

The call here is that Anderson, the more physical of the two, should be a certain starter, with Bell used as a flex player.

"Those guys run downhill, and each guy presents a different challenge for us, but they both run hard and both can break tackles," Eagles safety Brian Dawkins said. "It's going to be a physical game. This is a team that certainly sticks behind the run. They don't shy away from the fact that they want to run the ball."

Brian Westbrook owners should be so lucky.

Here's a tip of the helmet to Daily News reader Tim Schrodel, winner of last week's LaDainian Tomlinson yardage contest.Several readers guessed that Tomlinson would get less than 100 yards from scrimmage against the Eagles, but none got closer than his actual total of 33 than Schrodel, who said one."Yes, LaDainian gets one measly yard the whole game," wrote Schrodel, who earns a Daily News fantasy football T-shirt for his brazen forecast.

<B>Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez:</B> His season-high seven catches for 67 yards Friday night were reason enough for optimism, but Sunday's matchup against the Chargers and their banged-up linebacking corps should be even better. He might even find the end zone for the first time all season.<B>Panthers running back Stephen Davis:</B> He's coming off a bye week after posting a dismal 13-carry, 27-yard, no-touchdown total in a win over the Lions two weeks ago. Carolina is home against the Vikings, who allow more rushing yards (142 a game) than they do hookers on a party boat. Davis should be able to right his ship on Sunday.<B>Buccaneers running back Cadillac Williams:</B> Slowed by hamstring and foot injuries the past few weeks, Williams is still listed as questionable, but was reported to look good in practice on Wednesday and should start. And what a great team to come back against - the 49ers are giving up 35.3 points a game.

<B>Eagles running back Brian Westbrook:</B> The reasons seem obvious, with the Eagles running the ball, like, never. But for those tempted to start the big-play back, look a little deeper. The Broncs love to run the ball (158.7 yards a game). That means chewing up the clock, which means the Eagles might not see the ball much. Add that to Andy Reid's impatience with the running game, and there you have it.<B>Giants quarterback Eli Manning:</B> He's become the darling of fantasy the past few weeks, averaging 269.3 yards his past four games, throwing nine TDs and only two picks. But they host the tough Redskins defense Sunday. This one smells of an old-time NFC East game: low scoring and lots of running.<B>Packers quarterback Brett Favre:</B> Some might think that since running back Ahman Green was felled with a leg injury, the Pack might rely heavily on Favre. Nice thought, but to whom will he throw the ball? He already is without favorite target Javon Walker (knee), and now Robert Ferguson is out, also with a knee. Green was a nice target out of the backfield. Give Brett an off week against a very tough Bengals D.