The players take their cue from coach Ben McAdoo, who has emphasized all week that what he wants from this game is the same he'd strive for in any other contest.

"A win," he said. "It's another opportunity to go out there and get better as a football team and to get a win in the division."

Besides, the Giants have their own incentive, and beating a division rival is always at the top of the list – especially when that opponent is responsible for your only home loss this season. Washington won, 29-27, on Sept. 25 in MetLife Stadium, where the Giants finished 7-1. And there's an added element this week – a Giants victory will eliminate the Redskins from the playoffs.

"We feel comfortable playing them," guard Justin Pugh said. "They are a good team. We know them, they know us. It is just like any other divisional game. It would be nice to knock them out. We are not their biggest fans and they are not our biggest fans, so to send them home would be pretty good for us."

The defense wants to build on its recent fine play (three touchdowns allowed in the last three games), while the offense is striving for the productivity and scoring that have been so elusive. The Giants have not scored 20 points in any of their last four games. Last week in Philadelphia, they lost 24-19, despite gaining 470 yards and converting 10 third down opportunities. But Eli Manning threw three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown, and the Giants kicked field goals on four of their five trips inside the red zone.

"We've won games, but we haven't put our best foot forward on offense," said lineman Marshall Newhouse. "That should be seen as a call to arms. Circle the wagons. Every cliché you can think of to get ready to make this run. I think that kind of looms over us, knowing that by no means are we where we want to be. That's our motivation to come out and use this as another, not tune up, but a way to test and see where we are and where we're heading."