PHILADELPHIA — It's said that when life offers adversity, it's only to open our eyes to the good times we are missing.

No one can appreciate this more than Eugene Epperson.

Epperson, from the Mount Airy area of Philadelphia, was watching the Indianapolis-New England Sunday night game on Nov. 5. He had a particular rooting interest as an owner of Indianapolis stud quarterback Peyton Manning and running back Joseph Addai. All of the sudden, though, something was very wrong.

"I had some severe pain in my chest," said Epperson, 49. "I kind of knew it was a heart attack, that's how bad the pain was. But I was also in denial, hoping that when I got to the hospital, the pain would go away and I could go back and watch the game."

Epperson hopped in his car and drove to Chestnut Hill Hospital, a move doctors would later deem unadvisable. Shortly after his arrival, the heart attack was confirmed.

He was stabilized at CHH and transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. One of his arteries was fully blocked, and a procedure involving the insertion of a balloon stent was required.

"All I was thinking about was that I'm really not ready to leave here," Epperson said. "All kind of thoughts ran through my mind."

Many of those thoughts centered on his sons Keith, 26, and Michael, 21; and grandson Andrew. But when his brother (and his league commissioner) Ralph came for a visit that Monday, the talk eventually turned to football. It might have been meaningless banter, but it was therapeutic, just the same.

Epperson's 10-team league requires scores to be called in by Thursdays or owners be subject to a $5 fine. He wasn't released until the following Friday and missed the deadline. He was granted a reprieve based on his extraordinary circumstances. And ...

"I was able to give my lineup for the following week," said a laughing Epperson, who started 2-2 but won his division with a 9-4-1 record.

"The first week of the playoffs is this week," he said. "Hopefully, Peyton Manning can do something against Cincinnati."

Those initial days out of the hospital were full of reflection.

"The first Sunday night after I got home, I was thinking to myself, 'Boy, a week ago today, I was sitting here and having a heart attack. Now I'm able to sit here and watch the game.' It was a good feeling. Now, I'm hoping I can win our Super Bowl."

We'll give a prized Daily News fantasy football T-shirt to the reader who comes closest to guessing Tiki Barber's rushing total this week against the Eagles. Entries must be received by noon Sunday.Submit projections by fax (215-854-5524) or e-mail (fantasyfootballphillynews.com). Include your name and hometown. In case of tie, one winner will be chosen at random.

• Dolphins running back Sammy Morris could be an interesting name this off-season. Morris, 29, is averaging 5.3 yards per carry in the three games since taking over for Ronnie Brown and is a pending free agent with very little mileage.• That dash to the waiver wire to grab Artose Pinner might have been fruitless. Seems Chester Taylor is ready to regain his spot as Minnesota's top running back. Pinner had 125 yards and three TDs Sunday, filling in for Taylor.• Arlen Harris is the guy to grab in light of the injury to Lions running back Kevin Jones. Thing is, you might play Harris on Sunday at Green Bay, but you probably won't in the last two weeks against Chicago and at Dallas.• The Jaguars' 375 rushing yards Sunday against Indianapolis was the second-most for one team since 1970. The record is the 407 yards gained by Cincinnati against Denver on Oct. 22, 2000. That was the game Corey Dillon had 278 with two scores.• Michael Vick needs 35 yards to pass Chicago's Bobby Douglass' 1972 quarterback record of 968 rushing yards. Douglass also had eight rushing touchdowns, 1,246 yards passing, nine TD passes and 12 interceptions. Through 13 games, Vick has 2,047 passing yards with 15 TDs and 10 picks, as well as two rushing scores.