New Orleans, LA (My Sportsbook) - Jason Campbell threw for 204 yards and a touchdown as the
Washington Redskins held on to upset the playoff-bound
New Orleans Saints, 16-10.
Despite the loss, New Orleans clinched the NFC South with Atlanta's loss on Saturday and Carolina's loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday. However, the setback did allow Chicago to clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
Campbell completed 13-of-28 passes without an interception, while Ladell Betts rushed 22 times for 119 yards for the Redskins (5-9), who rebounded from a tough home loss to Philadelphia last week.
Drew Brees was 21-of-38 for 207 yards with an interception and no touchdowns for the Saints (9-5), who suffered a let-down from last Sunday night's huge primetime victory over Dallas. Deuce McAllister ran for 48 yards and the only touchdown for New Orleans.
After Shaun Suisham's 22-yard field goal gave Washington a six-point lead with 4:15 left in the fourth, the Saints managed to put together one final drive deep into Redskins' territory.
Faced with a 4th-and-5 on their own 37-yard line, Brees found Marques Colston for a seven-yard gain to move the chains to midfield. Two incompletions later, Brees hooked up with Devery Henderson for a 16-yard yard gain down to the Washington 34-yard line. Brees followed that up with a 15-yard reception, but New Orleans' drive stalled from there.
With a 4th-and-7, Brees looked for Terrance Cooper in the end zone, but Carlos Rogers was there to break up the pass and the Redskins were able to run out the clock from there.
The Redskins drove 52 yards on their first drive of the game before Suisham gave Washington a 3-0 lead with a 37-yard field goal. The drive stalled as Campbell fumbled the snap on a 3rd-and-1 at the Saints 14-yard line.
Then, later in the first quarter with Washington facing a 3rd-and-5 on its own 25-yard line, Campbell found Chris Cooley for a 44-yard reception down to the New Orleans 31. On the next play, Campbell's pass into the end zone split two Saints defenders and found Santana Moss for a 31-yard touchdown that made it 10-0.
New Orleans answered with a 13-play, 80-yard scoring march that bridged the first and second quarters and was capped by McAllister's one-yard touchdown scamper.
The Redskins answered with another 37-yard boot by Suisham on their next possession to make it 13-7 at the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, John Carney's 41-yard field goal brought New Orleans within 13-10.
The Saints were looking for more after forcing the Redskins to go three-and- out, but Rogers picked off Brees' underthrown deep pass to Henderson.
The Redskins followed the turnover with a 10-play, 61-yard drive that ate up 6:09 of the clock and resulted in Suisham's 22-yard field goal.
Game Notes
Colston finished with seven catches for 84 yards for the Saints...Cooley ended with four receptions for 80 yards for Washington...Redskins defensive end Andre Carter had seven tackles and a sack.