With three games remaining, the Washington Redskins are well aware that there is still plenty on the line.
After yesterday's loss to the St. Louis Rams, Washington (3-10) now faces a stretch in which it'll go toe-to-toe with all three of their divisional opponents in the final three weeks of the season.
Head coach Jay Gruden sees this weekend's game against the New York Giants (4-9) as a chance to spark a strong finish for the rest of the season.
"This is a great opportunity to turn it around, to get this terrible taste out of our mouth and move forward," Gruden said. "We can't dwell on the negative energy around us. We are going to focus on the New York Giants."
As the Redskins embark on the final three games of their season, there is still an opportunity to finish near the top of the division. Should they win out, the Redskins will finish a strong 4-2 in the division and double their overall win total from a year ago.
Redskins fullback Darrel Young said he's using that as motivation going forward.
"We've got to stick together. We have to be together. We have to be one," Young said. "I just address the guys like we have a chance right now, and from a positive standpoint, to finish 4-2 in the division."
Along with moving up in the standings, Young views the chance to play spoiler as a motivating factor, as well.
"Let's try to spoil something because the Eagles and the Cowboys may not be able to go to the playoffs because of what's going on around the league and the NFC in terms of wild card and stuff like that," Young said. "Let's try to be a spoiler of somebody."
Middle linebacker Will Compton, who finished with game-high 14 tackles on Sunday against the Rams, believes that a strong finish will be critical in the Redskins having a productive offseason.
A look back at some of the top images in games between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants.
"We got to end on a good note," he said. "We got to focus on New York right now. We got to get a win and we got to do whatever it takes to get a win, but we need to end this thing on a good note and have some momentum going into the offseason."
As they look to do just that, they'll have the support of the hometown crowd on their side. While they play the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium this Sunday, they'll come back to the friendly confines of FedExField to finish the season.
In the final two weeks, the Redskins will play the Philadelphia Eagles at home in Week 16 before wrapping up the season in a rematch with the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 28.
With three important games remaining, Gruden believes motivation will be the least of his worries as the team wraps up the 2014 campaign.
"Anytime you get to face the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, you should be motivated," the first-year head coach said. "For a pro football player, it is exciting – a privilege to play this game."
RELATED LINKS:
-- Redskins Set Sights On New York Giants
-- Redskins Fall To Rams, 24-0
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