Every matchup involving division leaders such as the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers is a huge game, especially after the NFC-leading Green Bay Packers lost last week. Down the stretch teams will be fighting for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and the Eagles and the 49ers, who meet Monday in San Francisco (ABC, 9 p.m. ET), are two of the NFL's premier teams.

Even without Donovan McNabb, the Eagles (7-3) will remain a balanced football team. Although the headlines have gone to McNabb, who may or may not return this season with a broken ankle, the defense has fueled Philadelphia.

In the last five games the Eagles have become an efficient running team and have taken some of the onus off McNabb to win games with his running or throwing. Although they will experience a fall off in talent at quarterback without McNabb, Koy Detmer can be serviceable. He will stay with his reading progression and get the ball to the open receiver.

The one concern I have about Detmer is his lack of experience and how that could translate into turnovers. McNabb never had a high tendency to throw interceptions. If Detmer doesn't have a feel for the game, he has to be careful to avoid turnovers.

In addition, the 49ers will be emotionally charged for the Eagles. Last week the 49ers lost a game that they should have won. Even though they outplayed San Diego, they didn't make the plays at the end of the game and allowed Drew Brees to take the Chargers down the field and beat them.

The 49ers, however, are a complete football team. Other than the problems at kicker, if they have one Achilles' heel, it's their ability to stop teams on third-and-long. But defensive coordinator Jim Mora Jr. has addressed the situation. Early in the season teams were picking on rookie Mike Rumph as the right corner in the nickel situation. But Mora is moving him around to left corner and to the slot. Because teams can't zero in on him, the 49ers' defense has improved on third down.

Here are the keys to Monday night's game:

Five keys for the Eagles
1. Maintain offensive balance: The Eagles can't rely on Detmer for their major yards passing and running. There will be more of an onus on getting the ball to Duce Staley and tight end Chad Lewis. They will go to a high-percentage passing game to sustain their offense because they can no longer look for McNabb to make big improvisional plays.

2. Short and sweet: The Eagles must establish a short, quick passing game: The Eagles' receivers won't beat teams with speed down the field. They use a possession-style passing game. With a new quarterback like Detmer, who doesn't have a big arm to attack deep, the Eagles will need the short, quick passing game to sustain offense.

3. Double T.O.: Along with being fast and quick, Terrell Owens catches and runs routes well and is strong as well as explosive. The Eagles must pay attention to him when the 49ers have the football. The Eagles' cornerbacks -- Bobby Taylor, Troy Vincent and Al Harris -- are outstanding cover corners, but Owens is an outstanding receiver who will command and demand double coverage.

4. Lots of long yardage: The Eagles' run defense, which has been much improved, must force the 49ers into the third-and-long situations and make them one-dimensional. That is when the Eagles' defense is at its best -- when they dictate with their blitz. They love to blitz in third-and-long situations, but they must first stop the run on the early downs.

5. Win in the kicking game: David Akers is one of the league's premier kickers and has had an unbelievable year. Particularly in his field-goal kicking, Akers must win his matchup against 49ers rookie Jeff Chandler, who will be making his NFL appearance. Akers must continue to be as consistent as he has been.

Five keys for the 49ers
1. Pressure Detmer: Against an inexperienced quarterback getting a start, the 49ers can't allow him to get comfortable in the pocket. It's imperative for the 49ers to pressure him, particularly up the middle. Quarterbacks hate pressure up the middle, especially someone like Detmer who will have to plant, step and throw. If they can get him throwing off his back foot, the 49ers' chances of winning are much improved.

2. Don't be fooled: Eagles coach Andy Reid has done a terrific job of breaking down opposing defenses with his gimmick and gadget plays -- reverses, halfback option passes, quarterbacks catching passes, etc. He will manufacture points through trick plays. The 49ers must be ready for anything.

3. Establish the run: The 49ers have gotten much better on their offensive line. The two-headed rushing monster of Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow gives them the ability to have a fresh running back all the time. It also takes pressure off rookie guard Eric Heitmann, who has been inconsistent in his pass protection. The 49ers should play to his strength -- run-blocking -- against the Eagles' front four and make them think run first.

4. Use much motion: With the Eagles being a high blitzing team, the 49ers can force them to make mistakes with their motion packages on offense -- mixing up formations with a variety of personnel packages and where they line people up. They have to force the Eagles' defense to make calls on the move. Then the 49ers could get some "freebies" through some mental breakdowns in the Eagles' secondary.

5. Move Garcia: The Eagles' front seven and strong safety Brian Dawkins love to attack the quarterback's launch point. For most quarterbacks, that is a three-, five- or seven-step drop. Because Garcia is a mobile quarterback, the 49ers need to move him around so the Eagles know they will have to play with discipline and that Garcia won't be in the same spot whenever he drops back.

Ron Jaworski covers the NFL for ESPN.