The three-game stretch of NFC East games beginning Thanksgiving weekend stood out when the Eagles' schedule was released in April, although at the time it appeared to be an opportunity to gain distance in a division race in which the Eagles were the clear favorites.
It has since become the Eagles' last chance to save a season of underachievement.
"It's now or never," offensive tackle Lane Johnson said.
The Eagles are 4-6 entering Sunday's game against the New York Giants, which will be followed by a Monday Night Football matchup with Washington and a visit to Dallas.
For the Eagles to reach the postseason, the path must go through the division. Washington and Dallas are tied atop the standings at 6-5, and the Eagles have four division games remaining. So the Eagles' chance of becoming the first back-to-back NFC East champions since 2004 remains viable. But the injury-ravaged, defending Super Bowl champions have yet to win back-to-back games.
They're no longer the division favorites. And they're running out of time.
"We have six games left, and our destiny is in our hands," defensive end Brandon Graham said. "We've got three NFC East opponents in our next three games, so it's on us if we want to turn this thing around."
