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Press Conference: Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III

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rg3Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III talks with reporters after the Redskins’ 27-24 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday.

 

On adversity and snapping the losing streak:

“I thought it was a great game – big game for us as a franchise. That locker room, every phase came out and stepped up to the plate, and helped us get the win today. That’s all you’re looking for. We wanted to spoil their Christmas and send them home and we did our part. We want to go into the offseason with a little momentum. Guys came out and played hard. You would think a 3-11 football team would just quit and we’re not, so that shows the character we have and I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

 

On winning again as a starter and the team’s overall performance today:

“It really isn’t about me. This win’s about this team and we’ve been through the ringer a little bit this year. We’ve been through a lot adversity, a lot of mess. Guys have responded. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I wouldn’t want to play with any other players. These guys mean a lot to me and I can feel it in the locker room after the game.”

 

On his confidence and support from the team after today:

“I feel like I always had that support from my teammates and that’s been the blessing through this entire time, through all the ups and downs and changes, or being in the lineup and not in the lineup, I’ve always had that support from them. That makes me go out there and play with more confidence, but I feel like today we got in a great rhythm early and that helped us throughout the game. [Head Coach] Jay [Gruden] and [Offensive Coordinator] Sean [McVay] called a great game, line protected.  Trent [Williams] played through a pretty significant injury and that’s what you need out of your leaders. We all came ready to ball tonight and in the end, we made more plays than they did.”

 

On if any halftime adjustments were made:

“Jay and Sean called a great game. When you believe the plays that are coming are going to work, you preach that to your guys, they usually end up working. You’ve got to have confidence in each play that is called and I think the guys did that. It’s hard to do that when you’re 3-11 and everybody thinks there needs to be changes made. I couldn’t be more proud of what we did out there today.”

 

On what he has learned about himself on and off the field this season:

“It’s hard to answer that question and I am not going to. At the same time, a lot of guys in the locker room told me that everything I have personally been through this year, it was big for me to go out there and play like I did and help lead this team to a victory. I would say to them, without them I wouldn’t be able to do it. If [cornerback Bashaud] Breeland doesn’t get that pick at the end of the game, we’re not up here smiling. Everybody contributed and everybody’s helped me through this time. The seven weeks being out, whatever’s happened in the past couple weeks, and now we get a chance to go out there and win a game…We all did it together.”

 

On the progressive confidence throughout the game making the victory possible:

“I, personally, and the team in general cherishes those moments. Those moments when you go out there and lead your team to victory on that final last drive and everybody was locked in.  When [wide receiver] Pierre [Garçon] catches that ball, the line helps slow the fight up so I can set on my back foot and deliver my good ball. It’s a great feeling when you see him running down, you’re like, ‘Hey, we’re in field goal range. Oh yeah, and we got a personal foul.’ Those things are great and you feel that joy inside when you go get those wins, but you cherish those moments late in games when you can make a play.”

 

On his confidence leading into next week after beating a team as good as the Eagles:

“We will be focused on Dallas. The guys will obviously enjoy this and we’ll come back next week ready to work. You know, that’s the beauty of this game – every Sunday or Saturday or Monday or Thursday, you get to go out there, play the game that you love. Guys in that locker room have a lot of passion for this game and every time you suit up, it’s an opportunity.  That’s the way you have to view it, no matter what your record is. I can tell it meant a lot to a lot of guys in that locker room to get this win, obviously, D-Jax [wide receiver DeSean Jackson] being the happiest of us all.”

 

On what wide receiver DeSean Jackson adds to the offense:

“D-Jax brings a big spark. He can make some plays that no one else can. We have a lot of guys like that. Pierre made some big plays tonight. Andre [Roberts], Santana [Moss], [Ryan] Grant, all these guys make plays for us. Tight ends are phenomenal, Logan Paulsen, Niles Paul, Jordan Reed. Our offensive line, they continue to battle and that’s all you can ask for. When we step on that field, I don’t want guys that are going to quit. We don’t have any of those guys so that’s a great feeling.”

 

On the roughing the passer fouls and if he was being targeted:

“I don’t think I was being targeted, but thank you. Those helped. You’ve got to be protected and our job is not to complain or question what the refs do or don’t do. In this game, the way the rules are set up, you can only hit the quarterback in certain areas and when he throws the ball, you’re not necessarily supposed to hit him late.  They made those calls, and we’re happy they did.”

 

On if he said anything to his teammates before the game-winning drive:

“I told everybody, ‘That one’s on me and you move on from it. Hey, let’s go win this game now.’ I think in moments like that, times of adversity, it’s not the mistake that you made, it’s how you come back after that mistake. Everybody had complete trust in me that I would make those plays, Coach [Jay Gruden] called plays to where I’d have the opportunity to get us back in the lead. That’s all you can ask for. You’ve got to step up.”

 


 

On what tackle Trent Williams’ effort to play through injury meant to him:

“It meant a lot. Trent being out there, he’s one of the top tackles in the league. We know what kind of motor he brings to the game, the kind of confidence he brings to the rest of that line, because he does lead that group. For him to play through that means a lot to me. Trent has been here for a while, a lot longer than I have, and he means a lot to me personally. It’s just great to have your left tackle out there, your war daddy, and I am proud of him.”

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