The only time the Saints led against the Redskins was at the end, when kicker Garret Hartley kicked an 18-yard field goal to win it in overtime 33-30.
Washington won the coin flip to being over time but a call reversal gave the ball to the Saints at the Washington 37 yard line, after fullback Mark Sellers was hit and fumbled the ball with the Saints recovering the ball
It’s the second division title under Sean Payton, and the Saints will continue to sit atop of the NFC playoff standings, and will have many pondering if this 2009 Saints team is a team of destiny. Washington played its best game of the season, defensively keeping the Saints offense in check most of the game, and offensively scoring the most points they have all season long.
Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell threw for 367 yards and three touchdowns and an interception. Washington accumulated 455 yards of total offense and seemed to have the game in hand late in the fourth quarter. Kicker Shaun Suisham missed a 23 yard field goal that would have made it a 10-point Washington lead with 1:52 left.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees would take advantage of their opportunity going 80 yards in five plays in 33 seconds to tie the game. Brees hit receiver Robert Meachem for a 53 yard touchdown over the middle to tie the game up at 30.
Meachem single handedly may have won this game for the Saints. The former first round draft pick made one of the most spectacular plays of the season near the end of the first half. With less than 30 seconds left to go in the first half, Brees threw an interception to Redskins safety Kareem Moore who returned it for 14 yards before running into Meachem. Meachem then stripped the ball from Moore and ran 44 yards for a touchdown to tie the game up at 17 at halftime. Meachem finished the day with eight receptions for 142 yards.
Turnovers wound up being the killer for the Redskins as they turned the ball over four times.
Brees seemed out of rhythm most of the day as the Redskins defense harassed him most of the game, yet Brees still managed to throw for 419 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Marques Colston caught Brees other touchdown pass, a 40 yard connection in the second quarter to tie the game up at 10.
The Saints next face the Atlanta Falcons on the road. Atlanta lost at home 34-7 to Philadelphia today.
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