GLENDALE, Ariz. -- When Jay Gruden was asked about the mad scramble that has become the NFC playoff chase, the Washington Redskins head coach had to laugh.Thats what it is and thats what its going to be, Gruden said with a chuckle. The last five weeks of the NFL season are always going to tell the tale. You want to be in position where youre not relying on everybody else. Fortunately, were in a position where we dont have to worry about people losing; if we take care of our business well get in. Thats where you like to be.As for Washingtons opponent on Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals, theyd like to be almost anywhere than the situation they find themselves in at a disappointing 4-6-1. They are winless in four of their last five games and even if they run the table during the next five weeks, there is no assurance of earning a postseason berth.Really, it is just this week, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said. You just take them one at a time. I think once we win one, well be fine. I think well add them up at nine and I think you have a great shot still, because were going to be playing some of those teams that are going to be in the same spot were in.Washington, which is getting an MVP-type season out of quarterback Kirk Cousins, is in a much more enviable position than Arizona. The Redskins might sit in third place in the NFC East, but at 6-4-1, they presently own the No.6 seed in the conference and are in control of their own destiny.As long as youre in the hunt, you have something to play for, Gruden said. A lot of things are going to happen. Were in a positon where were going to take one game at a time and when the dust settles, well see if were good enough to make it or not. But the minute you start looking at other teams and looking past a team is when youll be getting ready for the draft and not playing in the playoffs.Cousins has been consistent all season, but hes been on a tear in his last three games. In back-to-back wins over Minnesota and Green Bay and a close loss to Dallas, he has completed 84 of 116 passes (72.4 percent) for 1,086 yards (362 per game) with eight touchdowns and no interceptions.One prevailing trend has been Cousins completing big chunk plays to his litany of weapons on offense, from DeSean Jackson and Jamison Crowder, tight ends Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis and slot man Pierre Garcon.On any team, big plays, explosive plays are going to help, Cousins said. Its a statistic that can be critical to winning football games, so we continue to try and find ways to get chunk plays when we can.However, Reed has been declared out because of a shoulder injury. The Redskins offense will be going against an Arizona defense that is allowing just 294 yards per game and is second against the pass, allowing 195.1 yards per game.Cousins stands to earn a jackpot in the offseason when the Redskins either sign him to a long-term deal or place him on another one-year franchise tag. Either way, Cousins knows he cant let up now with so much left on the line for the Redskins.I think you never feel comfortable in this league, youre always trying to push, he said. You just know how competitive it is and how easily you can get knocked off if youre not at the top of your game at all times. With five games to go, it just feels like theres a lot left to be done, a lot left to prove and it starts by coming to Arizona and being ready to go.The Cardinals have absolutely no room for error as their hopes of reaching the postseason for a third consecutive season continue to fade. They may not have the service of speedy wide receiver John Brown, whose cramping hamstrings are thought to be the result of the sickle-cell trait. Cornerback Patrick Peterson is also hurting because of a knee injury suffered in last weeks loss at the Falcons.One good thing going for the Cardinals is the continued torrid play of second-year running back David Johnson, who leads the league in yards from scrimmage and has recorded 13 touchdowns for the second straight year.One more loss, however, and Arizonas playoff chances are likely kaput. That will feel like a major letdown after the Cardinals cruised to a 13-3 record a year ago and an appearance in the NFC Championship Game.Every year is so different. Sometimes you just roll right through it and you win games, Palmer said. You win by large margins; you win close ones all the time. Sometimes you just cant catch a break and feel like the ball is not bouncing your way. I dont compare it to the talent or who we had last year, its just the way the ball has bounced this year and the way things have gone.Were in the thick of it. There is not one guy in that locker room that thinks, Aw man lets start thinking about next year. There are a lot of weird records right now in this league. There are a lot of teams in the NFC in the hunt, and were one of them. Thats all that matters. This Sunday is really all that matters.The Cardinals know they will have their hands full with Washingtons second-ranked offense, which is averaging 426.4 yards a game.Youve got to try and stop the run, for sure, linebacker Kevin Minter said, referring mainly to Washingtons rookie running back Robert Kelley. If you dont get a hold of him, its going to be a long game. Theyve got talent across the board, offensively, and theyve got a quarterback thats hot.We better have some pride. We earned that No. 1 defensive ranking and if we want to keep it, we better come with it on our mind and come Sunday ready to hit someone in the mouth. Air Max Günstig Outlet . -- PGA TOUR Canada member Steve Saunders took a three-stroke lead Saturday in the Web. Air Max Günstig Bestellen . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. http://www.schweizairmax.ch/ .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Air Max Online Bestellen . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court. Nike Air Max Günstig Kaufen . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. BAYAMON, Puerto Rico -- No. 14 Texas A&M concluded the Puerto Rico Clasico with a 28-26, 25-23, 25-15 victory over Virginia Tech today to improve to 3-3 on the season.Aggie All-American senior middle blocker Jazzmin Babers led all players with 14 kills while hitting .407. Freshman outside hitter Hollann Hans, who was celebrating her 19th birthday, tallied a personal best 12 kills while making the first start of her young career, and junior outside hitter Kiara McGee also posted double-digit kills with 12 as Texas A&M recorded 53 team kills to Virginia Techs 38. The Maroon and White also outhit the Hokies, .322 to .179, en route to the victory.There were 10 ties and five lead changes in the opening set. The Aggies equaled their largest lead at 10-6, but the Hokies managed to take their first lead since scoring the opening point at 16-15. They went on to build their largest lead at 19-17 and still held a two-point cushion at 20-18 before Hans posted two of her five kills in the frame to tie the score at 20-20. She also tied the score at 21 with a kill, and back-to-back Virginia Tech errors returned the lead to the Aggies, 23-21.Virginia Tech later staved off two match points to tie the score at 24, and the Hokies continued to stay alive by tying the score at 25- and 26-all before Babers and Hans put away consecutive kills to seal the 28-26 first-set victory.The Aggies built a 19-12 led in the second set beffore the Hokies went on a 9-2 run to tie the score at 21-21, forcing A&M to call its second timeout.dddddddddddd Hans then propel the Aggies to a 3-1 spurt with three kills to put A&M at set point. The Aggies committed an attack error before sophomore middle blocker Kaitlyn Blake got the set-ending kill to give A&M a 2-0 set lead in the match.The Aggies trailed the third set, 8-5, before outscoring Tech 5-1 and taking a lead they would not lose. Texas A&M continued to pull away, outhitting the Hokies, .500 to .074, in the set. Babers would get four kills during a 5-0 run that put the Aggies ahead, 22-14. Only a service error ended the rally, but Hans got a kill on the next play, and Blake put down an overpass to put the Aggies at match point. Junior libero Amy Nettles then served an ace to cap the victory.A&M senior defensive specialist Victoria Arenas took team-high honors in digs with 11, and Blake led all players with four blocks as A&M outblocked Tech, 7-2. Junior setter Stephanie Aiple tallied 41 assists.Linsey Owens led Tech (3-2) with 13 kills but was held to a .167 hitting efficiency.The Aggies host Chinese team Shandong in an exhibition game on Monday. The match will be played at the A&M Consolidated Tiger Gym, with first serve slated for 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. ' ' '