yeah, to have ping and lack of acceleration would require the EGR to be out of whack both ways (not working when it should and working when it should not).
with the wonderful tune of the SN's, i would be lookin at things like a dirty MAF (or other things like dirty IAC and ECT).
the EGR is decent (on foxes atleast) with tossing codes, except for when the EGR position sensor is out of calibration. that is not super common though (the EGR seat can wear or carbon can jamb the valve open). again, not the first thing on my list.
have you pulled codes yet? the KAM (puter memory) can store codes even though the CEL is not on. the CEL has a higher threshold criteria to light off than the KAM storing codes (stupid intermittant issues that are not a huge deal can store a code in the KAM). might be worth pulling codes just in case - that can help one to diagnose.
that sounds like the field perhaps (i dont remember the name at all). i remember the outfield kinda sloped downhill a little - i hit a ball on the screws and rolled it out to the fence because the ground was so hard - it was like a parking lot. LOL). good times.