Breaks Go In Favor Of Redskins

TAMPA, Jan. 7 -- It had to be the silliest and most absurd play Marcus Washington has made.

Now the linebacker will remember it as one of the highlights of his career.

Late in the first quarter of the Redskins' 17-10 win Saturday, Washington stripped Tampa Bay running back Carnell Williams, then fumbled the ball, then watched Sean Taylor pick up the fumble and run it 51 yards for a touchdown.

After the game, Washington cursed himself for fumbling and failing to protect the football. He also celebrated two good breaks -- Taylor's recovery and his own game-sealing interception on an errant Chris Simms pass -- that helped the Redskins pull out a playoff win.

"I hate to say it, but a lot of this game is luck," Washington said. "Things turn around in a split second. One second I caused a fumble, and the next I fumbled myself. I guess the good breaks mostly went my way."

The turnovers Washington created amounted to little more than good breaks, he said. When Tampa Bay had the ball with about one minute left and Simms dropped back to pass, Washington said he never thought about an interception. Then Simms threw a wobbly pass -- intended for Joey Galloway -- that fell short and dropped into Washington's arms.

The play sealed the game and sent Tampa Bay's fans streaming for the exits.

"I can't really take too much credit for that," Washington said. "I was just in the right place at the right time. I didn't even think about it."

Washington's forced fumble, though, required at least a little forethought.

With 4 minutes 33 seconds left in the first quarter, Washington dived to tackle Williams. As he made the tackle, Washington punched his hand at the football, springing the ball loose.

Seven players sat on the field near the football, but only Washington saw it.

The linebacker picked up the ball and started running -- "I thought, 'Touchdown!' " he said -- only to be stripped by guard Dan Buenning seven yards later.

Washington "is one of the best guys on the team at causing fumbles," linebacker Lemar Marshall said. "He knows exactly where to hit the ball. He's an expert at that, man. That's why I was a little surprised when he fumbled the ball himself."

Said Washington: "I should have known better, but you know what? If I held onto the ball, that would have cost us a touchdown."