Every week is a new challenge for Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel. In a league overflowing with talented wide receivers, Samuel lines up every week across from some of the best in the game.

This season, he's gone up against the likes of Marques Colston, Santana Moss, Roy Williams and both Steve Smith's. But this week, the 5-foot-10 Samuel will face the "tall task" of stopping the vaunted Chargers wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floy - both of whom measure in at 6-foot-5.

"You just have to go and get the ball at the highest point before they do," said Samuel, who is tied for third in the league with five interceptions. "This is not the first time we've played against tall receivers.

"The mentality is always to go out there and beat the man across from you and just try to win the game."

It's been a tumultuous week for the Eagles' secondary. Nickel back Joselio Hanson was suspended four games by the NFL, and Samuel's good friend Ellis Hobbs, teammates from their days with the New England Patriots, suffered a season-ending neck injury. Dimitri Patterson, in his first game returning from a quad injury, will step in as the nickel back in the depleted defensive backfield.

"You always have to go into the game with depth and as many people as you can," Samuel said. "We're a little short, but Dimitri's back and we should be alright.

"I feel real confident (with Patterson). He's been here since training camp, he had a hell of a practice this week and he's going to be alright."

Samuel played it coy when asked if the defense would have any surprise wrinkles in store for the Chargers offense.

"You just have to wait and see," he said. "I can't give you the game plan."

-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 2:56 p.m., November 13