[wysifield-embeddedaudio|eid="379991"|type="embeddedaudio"|view_mode="full"]On the Patriots defense...
"I think it starts with the fact that they're really well-coached. You can tell that they're disciplined, they're smart. A big part of playing at this level is intelligence and experience, knowing what to do and playing fast. I see their ability to do that. That goes a long ways. I think they lead the NFL in sacks so they do have a great pass rush. Chandler Jones, I think, is the sack leader in the NFL. So I'm sure he's going to be a name that if people don't know him now they will soon. They do have some very dynamic players."
- Redskins Quarterback Kirk Cousins
"The physicality of their defense. Their linebackers are downhill. They have a good pass rush. Then, their secondary is physical. They get their hands on you. They re-route you and they give their pass rush time to get home. They have good safety help, good safety play. They're sound against run. They're just very good all around. Not a lot of weaknesses on defense. They've done it with a lot of different people, different years. Last year, they had [Darrelle] Revis back there, they lose Revis and they put Malcolm Butler in there - he's doing an excellent job. Then, the pass rush, linebacker play is outstanding."
- Redskins Head Coach Jay Gruden
On Tom Brady...
"I think he's the GOAT - he's the greatest of all time. He's done it for a reason. I have really only talked to him once but I did tell him the one time I talked to him, 'I study you, you do it at the highest level.' So he's kind of set the standard for all of us to follow. It's a high standard to meet. That's the goal, certainly, every year, every offseason, to work and to prepare to try and play at the level he does week-in and week-out."
- Redskins Quarterback Kirk Cousins
"His decision making is always top-notch. He's an excellent player, there's no question about it. I don't really anticipate him throwing any balls to us. If we want an interception, we're going to have to make some great breaks on the ball. We're going to have to get some hands up and get in the passing lanes and try to get some deflections. They're possible, but he's not going to hand us any. We've just got to go out and make some plays."
- Redskins Head Coach Jay Gruden
[wysifield-embeddedaudio|eid="379996"|type="embeddedaudio"|view_mode="full"]On trying to stop Rob Gronkowski...
"Well, I think it's going to be a group effort. You can say you want to double him and do all this stuff, but if you double him, you leave the other guys one-on-one. I think it's going to be man-on-man in certain situations. Our guys are going to have to step up, whoever is on him, and compete for the football. Rob Gronkowski, he's like a great basketball player; Steph Curry, LeBron James, he's going to get his points. You've just got to make sure they don't kill you. We've just got to try to limit his big plays and when he does get the ball we get some people around him and try to force some turnovers and go ahead and play."
- Redskins Head Coach Jay Gruden
On playing the Patriots...
"We're going against the Super Bowl champs at their home field with their home crowd. All odds are against us. We don't really care too much about that. People in this locker room, coaches, we have a game plan and we're going to execute it. What better feeling then to go out and beat the Super Bowl champs. That's how we look at it."
- Redskins Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson
On stopping the Patriots offense...
"We got to step our game up as a D-Line and get to [Tom] Brady as quick as possible. Our main focus is stopping the run because for the last 3 or 4 weeks that's been our nemesis. We knock the run out and make them one dimensional then I think we'll be ok."
- Redskins Defensive End Jason Hatcher
