Robert Griffin III is focused on Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers.
That much was made perfectly clear Wednesday in the quarterback's weekly press conference. As he faced question after question about self-evaluations, responding to critics and his general approach to football, Griffin III repeated his theme for the week.
"Just preparing for San Francisco, man," Griffin III said when asked if he was doing anything different to prepare for Sunday's game. "That's all I can do."
When asked what specific areas he'd like to improve upon as a quarterback, Griffin III said "everything."
"Like I said, Jay [Gruden] wants me to play better. I want to play better. We want to win. That's all we're focused on – getting a win," Griffin III said. "We've got San Francisco coming up, and they're not going to make it easy."
Griffin III is coming off a performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which he struggled, completing 23-of-32 passes for 207 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the Redskins' 27-7 loss at FedExField.
After the game, Griffin III spoke to the media about how he needed to improve individually, but how he was also counting on those around him to play better so that the whole team and the franchise could eventually get to where it wanted to be.
"We were playing good team ball," Griffin III said. "It takes 11 men. It doesn't take one guy, and that's proven. If you want to look at the good teams in this league and the great quarterbacks, the Peytons and the Aaron Rodgers, those guys don't play well if their guys don't play well. They don't. We need everybody. I need every one of those guys in that locker room, and I know they're looking at me saying the same thing."
Some in the local and national media believed Griffin III was using his comments to throw his teammates "under the bus," to which the quarterback responded via his social media channels on Monday.
"It's unfortunate that anyone would take a piece of my press conference and say I threw my teammates under the bus," Griffin III wrote on his Facebook page. "I would never throw my teammates under the bus! I take responsibility for my play & will play better. #HTTR"
Since that time, Griffin III said he has also addressed his comments with his teammates.
"A large majority of the locker room has come to me and talked to me, and that's great," Griffin III said Wednesday. "We are all focused on the same thing – winning, staying together and beating San Francisco."
Speaking of San Francisco, the 49ers feature an extremely talented defense that has been able to overcome the loss of several key contributors to remain one of the top units in the league.
Entering Sunday's game at the brand new Levi's Stadium, the 49ers rank fourth in the NFL in total yards allowed per game, including sixth in rushing yards allowed and fourth in passing yards allowed.
They're doing so without inside linebacker Navarro Bowman and nose tackle Glenn Dorsey (who have been injured most of the season), linebacker Patrick Willis (who has missed the last four games with an injury and is likely out for the year) and outside linebacker Aldon Smith (who was suspended the first nine games of the season).
Smith made his return last Sunday in the 49ers' 16-10 road victory against the New York Giants, helping pressure Eli Manning into a season-high five interceptions. Bowman, meanwhile, suffered torn ligaments in his knee in January's NFC Championship Game, and this week was expected to make his return to the practice field.
The injuries at inside linebacker have opened the door for rookie Chris Borland, who is averaging more than 15 tackles a game the past three games and today was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording 13 tackles and two interceptions against the Giants.
"Very tough defense," Griffin III said. "They make you earn every single thing you get. They don't give up a lot of big plays and they play with passion. So we are going to have to match that going into their house and they are not going to make it easy for us."
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