The two games couldn't be any more different.

At this time last week, the Redskins were preparing for a key NFC East tilt against the Dallas Cowboys, in front of a national television audience, on Monday Night Football.

Now, following the disappointing 21-18 loss to the Cowboys, the Redskins are gearing up for AFC opponent Cleveland, a team they haven't faced in the regular season since 1991.

The condensed time period with which teams must prepare following a Monday nighter is "one of the hardest weeks in football," head coach Joe Gibbs said.

"You're coming back from an emotional game--it's hard," Gibbs said. "You have to call on your players to come back with a day off on Tuesday, and then practice hard on Wednesday and Thursday. It's hard for the coaches, too. We're all just together for the first time with a whole new group of coaches and players."

Players say the frustration of losing to Dallas for the 13th time in the last 14 games diminished as soon as the team began to prepare for Cleveland.

"We put that game behind us 24 hours after it was over," cornerback Shawn Springs said. "It was just one game. Now we have to move on."

In watching film of Cleveland, Springs said he saw a solid team that, despite not having a true superstar in its midst, has plenty of young, up-and-coming players, particularly at wide receiver.

"That's the thing with the NFL--regardless of the names, anybody can beat you or they wouldn't be in the NFL," Springs said. "That's how players become stars. At some point they have to build their rep on somebody."

Both the Redskins and Browns are 1-2 in the early going this season. Washington is in last place in the NFC East, two games behind undefeated Philadelphia.

Said wide receiver Laveranues Coles: "We have a sense of urgency every game. We had a sense of urgency last game. Fans want us to win the Dallas game more than they want other games."

To help the players get through the shortened work week, Gibbs has enticed players to work hard by offering rewards, Coles said.

"Coach Gibbs has let us know that if we go out and perform well, he'll reward us," Coles said. "He'll try to give us a little break here or there. Right now, the guys see the daylight at the end of the tunnel. All we have to do is work hard in practice and play hard in the next game."