The clock had just struck midnight on the 2012 Washington Redskins season when the focus had already turned to preparing for another playoff run in 2013.
With the bad taste of Sunday's 24-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card round still settling in, offseason training plans were already in the works.
"It's a bad feeling, but we can't dwell on it," said Redskins inside linebacker Perry Riley. "We've got to learn from it, and if we get into this position next year, look for a different outcome."
Riley said he was discussing offseason training plans with fellow linebackers Lorenzo Alexander, Rob Jackson and Ryan Kerrigan. The four teammates agreed to train together in the coming weeks in order to achieve maximum results heading into the team's first round of workouts in April.
These discussions occurred, Riley said, before they even left the locker room after Sunday's loss.
"We've already put our offseason workout plan together," Riley said. "We're going to work out together, get a supplement plan, diet plan – we're already starting on that."
After the game, Kerrigan reflected on what was a major improvement by the Redskins' defense during its seven-game winning streak to end the regular season, but said the end result left a bad taste in everybody's mouth.
"It definitely feels good that we were able to pick up our play throughout the back half of the season as a team and especially as a defense," Kerrigan said. "But, you know, we didn't get the stops we needed today, so it stinks right now."
Redskins safety Reed Doughty turned in one of his best-career performances Sunday against the Seahawks, as the veteran safety had 12 tackles, two sacks and one pass defensed.
After getting eliminated by Seattle in the playoffs for the second time in his career, Doughty said the Redskins were hurting and hungry for another shot.
"It's just about knowing that you have a shot – once you're in [the playoffs], it's anybody's game," Doughty said. "This is a dangerous team that has a great opportunity. That's all you're asking for is an opportunity, and we just let it slip away."
The Washington players are responding to the loss the only way they know how – by working harder.
"This is just a taste of it," Kerrigan said. "We won the NFC East, got to the playoffs – but we want more. I definitely want more.
"I want more for these coaches, want more for guys like [London Fletcher], and that's going to be my focus in the offseason."
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