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Portis powers Redskins past Eagles

Dec 22, 2008 - 2:17 AM By Todd Jacobson PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LANDOVER, Maryland (Ticker) -- Jim Zorn didn't resemble the "worst coach in the world," Jason Taylor played a little bit like the $8 million defensive end the Washington Redskins envisioned when they acquired him from the Miami Dolphins, and running back Clinton Portis looked a lot like the workhorse who once led the NFL in rushing.

The combination was enough to help the Redskins beat the Eagles, 10-3, on Sunday, preserving the victory with a late defensive stand.

Although Washington (8-7) defeated Philadelphia for the second time this season, it wasn't enough to salvage its season.

Despite ending a three-game losing streak, the Redskins' dimmed playoff hopes - once so bright after a 6-2 start to the season - officially were officially thanks to a win by the Atlanta Falcons over the Minnesota Vikings.

"We didn't think we was going (to the playoffs) in the first place," wide receiver Santana Moss said. "The way we was playing, we didn't care about what happened after this. All we wanted to do was finish this season as strong as we can.

Philadelphia dropped to 8-6-1 and jeopardized its playoff hopes as well. The Eagles host Dallas to end the season, and they'll need to win - and get some help - to sneak into the playoffs.

"We had everything we asked for," Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb said. "We had to win out. We had to come out here and play well and obviously play well next week, and it just didn't happen today."

It almost did. Though its offense sputtered most of the game, Philadelphia had a late chance to tie the game, but wide receiver Reggie Brown came within inches of a game-tying touchdown when he was stopped agonizingly short of the end zone on the final play of the game.

Needing a touchdown from the Redskins 18-yard line with no timeouts, Brown caught a pass over the middle from McNabb and he was immediately hit by Fred Smoot and LaRon Landry.

"I kind of wish I'd kept running," Brown said. "But I stopped and he threw me the ball and unfortunately I wasn't in the end zone."

Replays showed that Brown was inches short of the touchdown, and after a brief review, referee Jerome Boger confirmed that Brown was indeed short, setting off a celebration from the 82,412 fans at chilly FedEx Field.

"I was on the goal line so I knew if he was in front of me, it wasn't a touchdown," Landry said. "As soon as he caught it I just had to lay the lumber on him."

The 79-yard near-scoring drive was Philadelphia's longest of the game. Washington held Philadelphia, which had come into the game averaging 32.7 points a game during a three-game winning streak, to three points and 275 yards.

Washington did just enough on offense to make the performance by the defense count. Portis ran 22 times for 70 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Jason Campbell completed 18-of-33 passes for 144 yards, ensuring at least a .500 record for Zorn in his first year as Washington's head coach.

After last week's embarrassing loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that rattled the Redskins and its rookie coaching staff, Zorn said he felt like the "worst coach in the world."

"The past several weeks have been really frustrating and we continue to build, build everywhere and last week was a real downer so you can't describe the emotion of toughing it out and actually coming through with a win," Zorn said.

Zorn can thank his defense, and Taylor, for helping erase that moniker. After saying he wasn't worth his $8 million contract on a local radio show during the week, Taylor had his best game with the Redskins.

Taylor sacked McNabb twice, swatting the ball out of the Philadelphia quarterback's hand in the third quarter to set up Washington's first touchdown. Linebacker London Fletcher picked up the fumble and returned it 12 yards to Philadelphia's 18-yard line to set up Clinton Portis' 1-yard touchdown run five plays later to give Washington a 10-0 lead.

It was Portis' first touchdown since a Week Seven win over the Cleveland Browns.

"I really wanted to spike the ball, spin on my head," Portis said, "? but they throw flags for everything."

Shaun Suisham got the Redskins on the board early with a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter. David Akers connected from 22 yards for Philadelphia's only points.

McNabb was 26-of-46 for 230 yards. Westbrook ran for 45 yards and had 71 receiving yards to lead the Eagles, who couldn't stop thinking about how close they came to a win.

"I'm disappointed. I can't say that enough," coach Andy Reid said. "I'm disappointed, as I think everyone in that locker room is. But we need to re-gather and get it going."