London Fletcher walked around the post-game locker room on Sunday night, encouraging teammates to "keep a humble spirit" after the Redskins' 32-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
It was the Redskins' third consecutive win after four straight losses and improved their record to 8-7 heading into the final week of the regular season.
With another win, this Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField, the Redskins will have secured a Wild Card playoff spot.
Fletcher's message rang true for Joe Gibbs, who repeated the words in his Monday press conference.
"You realize how easy it is to lose football games up here," Gibbs said. "We lost four in a row that were heartbreakers. To be able to come back and win three in a row, you realize how fortunate you are. As long as we keep the right attitude and realize what we are going up against each week, that is the key for us."
Gibbs said he was proud of how players have responded in the stretch run.
"It exemplifies real heart and character," Gibbs said.
When Gibbs returned to coach the Redskins in 2004, he sought players who had strong character. He knew it would pay off in times of adversity.
Gibbs could not have foreseen the adversity the Redskins would face this season.
Washington's turnaround from four tough midseason losses, a series of injuries to starters and the tragic death of Sean Taylor has been remarkable, given all the team has been through.
"I haven't been a part of a team that has overcome this much," Gibbs said. "There's a certain resilience that builds up over time with that. You develop a hardening process there. It's almost like they're going to overcome whatever's out there. It's also a caused a certain camaraderie and chemistry.
"Some teams can grab it and some can't. Who would have thought that, through all of that, we would wind up going on a three-game run."
-- PRAISE FOR KHAYAT, DAVIS
Joe Gibbs credited offensive quality control coach Bill Khayat and assistant video director Todd Davis for noticing there were 12 Vikings players on the field during a critical sequence in Sunday's game.
Todd Collins had completed a 23-yard sideline pass to Moss near midfield, but the Vikings appeared ready to challenge the play to determine if Moss had both feet in bounds.
Collins got to the line of scrimmage quickly to run a play before Minnesota could challenge, but Collins and Casey Rabach mishandled the snap. The fumble was recovered by the Vikings.
Khayat noticed that the Vikings had 12 players on the field, an infraction. Davis, who takes video shots of each play, quickly reviewed the film and counted 12 players on the field.
The information was delivered to Gibbs's headset, and the head coach tossed a challenge flag.
Replay revealed that a Vikings player had not been able to get off the field in time for the snap. And instead of a costly fumble, the Redskins had the ball in Vikings territory.
-- LATEST ON CAMPBELL
Joe Gibbs said that Jason Campbell's status remains day to day as he recovers from a dislocated kneecap injury suffered on Dec. 6 against Chicago.
The third-year quarterback is unlikely to play this Sunday's season finale against the Dallas Cowboys.
Could he come back for a playoff game?
"We just have to wait and see [with Campbell]," Gibbs said. "He's still working and coming back. We're hoping to get him back at some point. We'll make a good decision when Jason gets back, but certainly the way Todd [Collins] is playing is a huge part of where we've gotten to right now."
Reporters pressed Gibbs on whether Campbell, if healthy, would replace Collins for a playoff game.
"I did not say that," Gibbs said. "I said that we would face that [decision] when we come to it. I said right now the guy that's playing [quarterback] is awfully impressive."
