There is an argument to be made that Thursday’s match between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles is the Commanders’ most important regular season game in nearly 20 years.

Since 1992, Washington has won 10 games in the regular season only three times – and never more than 10.

And in those three seasons, only once did the Commanders win a game in November or December against a divisional opponent that also finished with at least 10 wins – against the New York Giants in 2005.

This is why Thursday’s game against the Eagles is a benchmark game for Washington, perhaps not only for this season but also for the future of the franchise. If the Commanders can pull off an upset on the road, not only will they earn their best win of 2024, but they could prove they are no longer the doormat of the NFC East.

While Washington was largely a punching bag for most of the 2000s, Philadelphia had great success.

Since 2000, the Eagles have played in seven NFC championship games, as well as three Super Bowl appearances. During that span, the Commanders have only made it to the second round of the playoffs once.

Over the past two years, Philadelphia has 25 regular season wins. Washington has 12.

Washington is 7-3 and is coming off a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Eagles are 7-2 and have won five in a row.

Both teams are on pace to win more than 10 games. And both seem like legitimate contenders, especially Philadelphia, given its pedigree.

Washington, on the other hand, still has a lot to prove.

Even though rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has been a revelation, he lacks what you might call a signature win. In fact, of the Commanders’ seven victories, only one came against a team currently scoring above .500. Three of their wins came against the Giants and Carolina Panthers, who have a total of seven wins.

Washington was very close – but not good enough – against the best competition on its schedule.

In a 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6, the Commanders scored on every second-half drive except one, and it proved costly. The Ravens scored on every drive, not counting when they ran out the clock. Washington also had to settle for four field goal attempts, including one on a drive that took it into the red zone.

The loss to the Steelers was even more crushing.

Commanders led 27-21 after intercepting Russell Wilson at the end of the third trimester. But their last three drives ended in punts, punts and turnovers on downs. Daniels was unable to lead the team in scoring after the interception or after a fumble on Pittsburgh’s next drive. Needing only a basket to win late, Washington was unable to exceed the 50 mark on its final possession.

These losses to good teams suggest the Commanders are close. But beating the Eagles — on the road and in a short week — would certify Washington in a way the previous 10 weeks have not. It would be the team’s best win of the season and the most impressive victory of Daniels’ young career.

Daniels has already been a breath of fresh air for the franchise. He is 12th in passing yards with 2,147 and his quarterback rating of 71.2 is fourth. He threw nine touchdowns and ran for four more.

What previous saviors (like Robert Griffin III or Kirk Cousins) lacked was the exact type of victory Daniels could achieve on Thursday: a late-season victory against a major opponent that stands in the way of a division title.

Beating Philadelphia wouldn’t guarantee Washington any more than a current lead in the NFC East. But for a franchise that has lagged behind its rivals for decades, a victory could finally mark an era of relevance.

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