PHILADELPHIA -- Jayden Daniels' nascent NFL career is all of 10 games old, yet the Washington quarterback responsible for the instant reshaping of the Commanders into winners already knows when a big game is on the schedule.
"I think people just know it's Philly week," Daniels said.
The Commanders-Eagles is as serious as it gets this time of the NFL season. As a bonus, for the first time in nearly three decades, the outcome truly matters for either team.
Daniels has the Commanders (7-3) on the precipice of their biggest regular-season game in the series against the NFC East rival Eagles (7-2) in decades.
Hyperbole?
Not a chance. Washington and Philadelphia meet Thursday -- not only with the division lead at stake -- but with both teams at least four games over .500 entering the game for the first time since 1996.
Terry Allen and Ricky Watters. Koy Detmer and Gus Frerotte. Norv Turner and Ray Rhodes.
Names forgotten to the history books until this week when every piece of the series rivalry has been resurrected as part of the anticipation for the prime-time showdown at Lincoln Financial Field. The only drawback to the game is that the short week -- the Eagles won at Dallas and the Commanders lost to the Steelers on Sunday -- has robbed the rivalry of a few extra days of hype.
Behind quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley -- who ranks second in the NFL with an average of 110.1 yards per game while Washington is 28th in the league defensively against the run, allowing 142.7 yards per game -- the Eagles are riding a five-game winning streak. The Commanders have won three of four games.
"I'm excited just to go to Philly and that type of atmosphere," Daniels said. "Heard they got very passionate fans, so man, I can't wait. I can't wait to go out there and see that fan base, and just experience that. And I know it's going to be a great venue, a great site, and we'll just go out there and see what happens."
Led by Daniels, the Washington offense keeps putting up points, week in, week out, even against stingy opponents such as Pittsburgh, which entered Sunday allowing just 14.9 per game. The quarterback is building a strong connection with receiver Terry McLaurin, who topped 100 yards receiving for the fourth time in the past eight games, accumulating 113 on five catches.
The Eagles, who have won by 20-plus points in three of their past four games, understand the challenge Daniels presents.
"A really good player who started off on fire, so we'll have a challenge here this week," Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni said. "You know how he's going to the right place with the football, being accurate, the things he can do when things do break down."
With a win, Washington would move to 8-3, its best record through 11 games since, yup, 1996.
"Taking our show on the road to go up and have another division battle, Thursday night in November, like come on, what are we talking about?" Commanders Coach Dan Quinn said.
While the Eagles had the earliest bye in the NFL in Week 5, the Commanders have the latest in Week 14, and the injuries are piling up after a relatively healthy start to the season. Kicker Austin Seibert (right hip) is out for a second consecutive game, as is cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring), their big trade deadline pickup.
The short turnaround doesn't help the situation, including tackles Andrew Wylie, Brandon Coleman and Cornelius Lucas all being questionable, but Quinn said he is trying to turn it into a positive.
"This is a really tough-minded group, and so if you told them it was going to be on a Wednesday, they'd be down for it," Quinn said. "Short weeks, it's hard, but it also favors guys who are like, 'Hey man, I'm down for the fight and I'll be ready and whatever it takes' kind of attitude. And we got a lot of those kind of guys with a big giant-sized chip on their shoulder."
The team announced Wednesday Robinson would be active against the Eagles. Washington is 1-2 without him this season.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels speaks to the media after an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
A fan dressed in a Santa Claus costume, celebrates with a Philadelphia Eagles fan as a Dallas Cowboys fan, sitting bottom right, and others watch play in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is pressured by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Philadelphia Eagles' Fred Johnson, left, and Lane Johnson, rear, celebrate with Jalen Hurts, center, after Hurts ran for a touchdown as Dallas Cowboys' Trevon Diggs (7) and Micah Parsons (11) look on in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) is tackled by the Washington Commanders defense during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts prepares to throw a pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) is stopped by Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin (20) and teamates during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Philadelphia Eagles' Cooper DeJean (33) and Jalyx Hunt (58) celebrate a long punt return by DeJean in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Washington Commanders place-kicker Zane Gonzalez, right, celebrates his 41-yard field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)