The Philadelphia Eagles are one win away from locking up the NFC East for the second straight year, and they’ve got a golden opportunity to do it this Saturday against a struggling Washington Commanders team. If they take care of business, they’ll become the first team to go back-to-back in the division in over two decades - a feat not accomplished since the Eagles themselves won four straight from 2001 to 2004.
But here’s the thing: what should happen and what does happen in the NFL don’t always line up - especially when kickoff comes at an unusual 5 p.m. window and you’re facing a team with nothing to lose. The Eagles can’t afford to coast into this one.
A win clinches the division and sets the tone for a playoff run. A loss?
That opens the door for unnecessary drama in Week 17.
Washington, sitting at 4-10, has been one of the league’s biggest letdowns this season. Just a year removed from an NFC Championship appearance, the Commanders have spiraled into irrelevance.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels has battled injuries all year, and with him now shut down, it’s Marcus Mariota - yes, the former Eagles backup - under center. The offense has sputtered, the defense hasn’t held up, and the sideline dancing from last season?
That’s long gone.
The lone bright spot in Washington’s offense remains wide receiver Terry McLaurin, though even he hasn’t been immune to the team’s injury bug. A quad issue has sidelined him for seven games this season - the most he's ever missed in his career.
Still, when healthy, McLaurin has been a thorn in the Eagles’ side. In 12 career games against Philly, he’s put up 64 catches for 917 yards and five touchdowns, averaging over 14 yards per grab.
But when the two teams met earlier this season in Week 11, rookie corner Quinyon Mitchell held him to just one catch on two targets - a shutdown performance that could be key again if McLaurin suits up.
The Commanders are playing for pride and future contracts at this point. With tight end Zach Ertz out for the year and Daniels shelved, they’re simply trying to put good tape on the field.
That said, they did snap a nine-game losing streak last week with a win over the Giants - their first victory in over two months. McLaurin had a big hand in that one, hauling in three catches for 69 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown from Mariota.
If there’s any spark left in this Washington offense, it likely starts with No. 17.
For the Eagles, this is about more than just clinching the division. It’s about momentum.
The offense has been inconsistent down the stretch, and with the playoffs looming, this is the time to iron out the wrinkles. A strong showing against Washington - especially early - could go a long way in restoring confidence heading into January.
There’s also a bit of history on the line for head coach Nick Sirianni. With a win, Sirianni would notch his 58th regular-season victory, breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Paul Brown for the most wins by a head coach in their first five seasons.
Brown went 57-13 with the Browns from 1946 to 1950, winning his first NFL title in that fifth year - a season that started with a dominant 35-10 win over the defending champion Eagles. If that’s not a bit of football symmetry, what is?
For Sirianni to move past Brown and for the Eagles to take that next step, it starts with handling business in Washington. That means keeping McLaurin in check - assuming he plays - and continuing to get strong play from Mitchell, who’s looked every bit the part of a first-round corner.
Back in Week 11, Mitchell was targeted just twice when covering McLaurin, allowing one catch. Daniels didn’t even bother throwing McLaurin’s way on 20 of those snaps.
That kind of respect - or fear - speaks volumes.
Bottom line: the Eagles have everything to play for. The Commanders?
Not so much. But that’s exactly the kind of setup that can lead to surprises if Philly doesn’t come out sharp.
Handle business, clinch the East, and let Sirianni make a little history. That’s the mission for Saturday.