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Inspired Redskins Win By '21'

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By JOSEPH WHITE, The Associated Press

Published: December 31, 2007

LANDOVER, Md. - Even the margin of victory reminded the playoff-bound Washington Redskins of Sean Taylor.

"I was on the sideline and guys were talking about the score, and then it hit me - we won by 21," veteran left tackle Chris Samuels said. "I came in the locker room and I yelled it out, and immediately I just kind of broke down in tears. Because I miss Sean, you know."

From disarray and heartache to confidence and dominance, the Redskins will enter the playoffs as the hottest team in the NFC after Sunday's 27-6 win against Dallas.

And with the hottest quarterback. And maybe the hottest running back. And with a defense coming off a game in which it allowed exactly 1 yard rushing.

And, perhaps most importantly, on a mission for the teammate who wore No. 21. It has been four weeks since the Redskins attended the funeral of their best defensive player, and they haven't lost since.

"Win for Sean" was as strong Sunday as it was when the four-game winning streak began Dec. 6, reinforced by everything from the fiery speech given by kick returner Rock Cartwright on the field before the game to the white "21" on the front of the black baseball cap worn by Coach Joe Gibbs at his postgame news conference.

"Play for the guy who's on your jersey - the guy who's not here, who should be here," Cartwright said he told his teammates. "We know how he played the game. That's why I think guys came out and played so hard."

The Redskins (9-7) will travel to Seattle on Saturday for a 4:30 p.m. game, a rematch of a 2005 division playoff won 20-10 by the Seahawks. Washington will be riding the longest current winning streak in the NFC, including three straight victories by double digits. It's a remarkable renaissance for a team that stayed afloat with close, ugly games before losing four straight, the last defeat coming the day before Taylor's funeral.

"To think four weeks ago, where we were, and where we are tonight, it was a great experience and a great ride," said Gibbs. "To get in the playoffs was a dream of ours, and four weeks ago, obviously everybody would have said, 'You know, it looks next to impossible.'"

Sunday's game ultimately turned out to be irrelevant - other than to serve as a possible preview of a postseason game two weeks from now. Minnesota lost 22-19 to Denver and New Orleans fell 33-25 to Chicago, giving Washington the two out-of-town results it needed to make the postseason without having to win.

But win they did, albeit against a Dallas team that rested anyone who was questionable with an injury because it had clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Still, the Cowboys played their healthy starters most of the game and were trailing 20-3 when QB Tony Romo was pulled in the third quarter.

Was-Portis 23 run (Suisham kick), 6:28.

Second Quarter

Was-FG Suisham 46, 11:15.

Dal-FG Folk 37, 4:58.

Was-FG Suisham 21, :01.

Third Quarter

Was-Portis 1 run (Suisham kick), 6:48.

Fourth Quarter

Was-Moss 42 pass from Collins (Suisham kick), 11:58.

Dal-FG Folk 30, 8:41.

A-90,910

RUSHING-Dallas, J.Jones 8-7, B.Johnson 1-0, Thompson 1-0, Barber 6-(minus 6). Washington, Portis 25-104, Betts 10-29, Collins 2-(minus 2).

PASSING-Dallas, Romo 7-16-1-86, B.Johnson 7-11-0-79. Washington, Collins 22-31-0-244.

RECEIVING-Dallas, Hurd 3-64, Fasano 3-15, Witten 2-24, J.Jones 2-12, Crayton 2-8, Austin 1-35, Barber 1-7. Wash., Moss 8-115, Cooley 5-42, Portis 4-27, Randle El 3-26, Caldwell 2-34.

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