The Washington Commanders return from their bye week with a crunch home divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football.
And if the Commanders cannot beat this version of the Eagles, it's over for head coach Dan Quinn.
Philadelphia is a shell of its old self. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is done for the season with a scary blood clot diagnosis, and wide receiver DeVonta Smith and running back Saquon Barkley are also banged up.
Commanders must beat demoralized Eagles squad on Sunday Night Football
Their offensive line lost prolific right tackle Lane Johnson to retirement, and general manager Howie Roseman traded two-time Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens.
While the defense has some strengths, giving up 38 points to the Dallas Cowboys showed cracks that hadn't been there previously under Vic Fangio.
The Commanders cannot waste this opportunity.
They are coming off their bye week, so they should be fresh. Philadelphia has one less day to prepare and heal after Monday Night Football. Their momentum has plummeted, and the Commanders are on home soil.
Everything seems to be working in their favor. Even without wide receiver Terry McLaurin and potentially other established veterans, there is no excuse not to get the job done at Northwest Stadium.
This is a game they must win. If they don't, Quinn's position might become untenable.
Dan Quinn's position would be untenable if Commanders don't beat the Eagles
Quinn bought himself some more time after the Commanders' second-half fightback against the San Francisco 49ers before the bye. He's promised improvements, but his record since reaching the NFC Championship game has been abysmal.
At the end of the day, this is a results business.
Talk is cheap. The Commanders have to start generating positive results, and quickly. A growing number of fans are getting restless, and though the schedule gets a little easier from here, the margin for error has completely gone.
Beating the Eagles would be a good start. But anything less, and Washington's respected leader will have a massive problem.
The Eagles are demoralized. They are on a short week. Their franchise player is hurt, and several others either won't feature or won't be anything close to 100 percent.
Commanders have absolutely no excuses coming off their bye week
Washington isn't exactly setting the league alight, either. But even at 1-4-1 through six games, the Commanders look superior, and they will be favored to emerge victorious.
According to the opening odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, the Commanders are 4.5-point favorites in Week 8. That could change, but it seems unlikely. It might add pressure, but coping with higher expectations is the least of Washington's problems.
A win would provide a glimmer of hope. A loss would send morale crashing, and Quinn might not have a way back.
Some fans may see that as drastic, especially with 10 games remaining after this weekend. But the conference championship was a long time ago, and it's been a constant downward spiral since then.
Quinn knows it. Everyone else does, too.
And if the Commanders can't beat an Eagles team in significant turmoil, they'll have almost no hope left.
Fans are expectant. Quinn must deliver.
Otherwise, the consequences could be severe.
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