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Redskins need to stem skid against Bengals

Dec 9, 2008 - 6:02 PM Washington (7-6) at Cincinnati (1-11-1), 1 pm Sunday

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Washington Redskins are quickly skidding out of the playoff race.

Having sunk to the bottom of the NFC East, the Redskins get a bit of a break in the schedule when they visit the reeling Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Washington has lost four of its last five games, during which it has scored a total of 53 points, to put its postseason hopes on life support.

The Redskins' woes continued as they fell behind by two touchdowns in the first 5 1/2 minutes of last weekend's 24-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

It was the latest setback for a club that started the season 6-2 and puts Washington in the position of needing to win its final three games just to have a chance of making the playoffs.

"It is sudden death," first-year coach Jim Zorn said. "Losing four of the last five games does not help confidence."

Jason Campbell was 21-for-37 for 218 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions, continuing his late-season struggles. Campbell has been picked off six times in the last five games after not tossing an intercepting in the first eight contests.

"Some way, some how, we just have to play better," Campbell said. "We have to rip off three (games) in a row."

An ailing Clinton Portis, who entered last weekend second in the league in rushing, was limited to 32 yards on 11 carries before he was yanked in the second half. The previous week, Portis managed just 22 yards on 11 rushes.

Portis, who had six 100-yard games on the season, including five in a row, has not scored since Week Seven.

The Redskins could get better at the expense of the dreadful Bengals, who have lost three straight games and were outscored, 69-6, in their past two.

Cincinnati hung in for a half against Indianapolis last weekend before Peyton Manning threw two of his three touchdowns in the second half to help the Colts pull away for a 35-3 rout.