Redskins must remain focused on themselves against Patriots

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) For the Redskins to upset Tom Brady and the undefeated Patriots on Sunday, defensive coordinator Joe Barry says his players need to focus on themselves as much as their opponent.

''It's about us. It's getting the call, getting lined up, and going and making a play,'' Barry said Thursday. ''That's what they rely on is you screwing up. And that's what we can't do.''

Washington (3-4) will visit New England (7-0) after a bye week, following seven games for a rebuilding team that have included signs of promise and spells of inconsistency. Take the Redskins' in Week 7 as an example, when they fell behind 24-0 to sputtering Tampa Bay before Kirk Cousins threw for three touchdowns to lead the largest comeback in franchise history.

Conversely, the Patriots have won all their games by at least a touchdown while putting up at least 28 points. Brady leads the league with 20 touchdown passes while throwing just one interception.

Those facts could suggest the Redskins need a radical game plan to have a shot Sunday, a notion coach Jay Gruden suggested would be a mistake to follow, especially for his quarterback.

''We have to try to keep doing what we're doing, what Kirk's comfortable with, No. 1,'' Gruden said. ''You don't want to overwhelm your quarterback and change totally from who you are.''

On defense, Barry's scheme may depend on who is available. Linebacker Keenan Robinson missed practice Thursday with a shoulder injury. Cornerbacks Chris Culliver, DeAngelo Hall (toe) and Bashaud Breeland (hamstring) are at various stages in their recovery, with Culliver appearing the most likely to play Sunday. Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (broken bones hand) may also return, albeit with a cast.

Even with a fully healthy group, Barry admits getting the better of Brady won't be easy.

''Guys that have played in this league long enough, there isn't a coverage or a front or a stunt or a pressure that they really haven't seen,'' he said. ''With him having so much consistency in the system for as long as he has, it's hard. But we're going to try.''

Defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois echoed that sentiment as his unit tries to balance respect for one of the game's best quarterbacks with a desire to keep pace in a wide-open NFC East.

''We respect him, but we ain't got to not come after you,'' he said. ''We're still going to hound him, we're still going to get him off his point, we're still going to not let him be Tom Brady.''

NOTES: Gruden couldn't say yet if Robinson's ''rotator cuff-type'' injury would keep him out of Sunday's game. ''I don't think so. I don't know. We'll have to wait and see how much strength he has.'' . C Kory Lichtensteiger (neck) and CB Quinton Dunbar (illness) also missed practice due to illness. . DE Jason Hatcher (knee) was limited for the sake of getting rest, Gruden said.

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