Washington's aim: "Win for Sean"

LANDOVER, Md. — Even the margin of victory reminded the playoff-bound Washington Redskins of Sean Taylor.

"I was on the sideline and guys were talking about the score, and then it hit me — we won by 21," veteran left tackle Chris Samuels said. "I came in the locker room and I yelled it out, and immediately I just kind of broke down in tears. Because I miss Sean, you know."

From disarray and heartache to confidence and dominance, Washington will enter the playoffs as the hottest team in the NFC after Sunday's 27-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

And, perhaps most important, on a mission for the teammate who wore No. 21: "Win for Sean."

It's been four weeks since Washington attended the funeral of its best defensive player, and it hasn't lost since.

When Washington (9-7) comes to Seattle for a 1:30 p.m. game on Saturday, it will be riding the longest current winning streak in the NFC, including three straight victories by double digits. It's a remarkable renaissance for a team that stayed afloat with close, ugly games before losing four straight, the last defeat coming the day before Taylor's funeral.

"To think four weeks ago, where we were, and where we are tonight, it was a great experience and a great ride," said coach Joe Gibbs, who has quieted doubters with perhaps the best performance of his Hall of Fame career.

"To get in the playoffs was a dream of ours, and four weeks ago, obviously everybody would have said, 'You know, it looks next to impossible.' "

Sunday's game ultimately turned out to be irrelevant — other than to serve as a possible preview of a postseason game two weeks from now. Minnesota lost 22-19 to Denver and New Orleans fell 33-25 to Chicago, giving Washington the two out-of-town results it needed to make the postseason without having to beat the Cowboys.

But beat the Cowboys it did, albeit a Dallas team that rested anyone who was questionable with an injury because it had clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Still, the Cowboys (13-3) played their healthy starters most of the game and were trailing 20-3 when quarterback Tony Romo was pulled in the third quarter.

"The word for us was uninspired. It shows when one team is fired up to play and one team isn't," coach Wade Phillips said. "Basically, I didn't get our team ready to play."

The Cowboys, who will have a bye next week, tried to muster any motivation they could find, but almost none of their goals were realized. They had hoped to win a 14th regular-season game for the first time in franchise history. Jason Witten caught just two passes, falling four short of becoming the second tight end to get 100 in a season. Receiver Terry Glenn, active for the first time all season, failed to catch a pass.

At least Romo (7 for 16 for 86 yards and an interception) set the season franchise record for completions (335). And four injured starters — including Terrell Owens — got extra time to heal, although Phillips said Owens would be "iffy" for the playoffs.

"We didn't even show up on the field," safety Roy Williams said. "We may have showed up physically, but mentally and everything else, we didn't show up."

Washington's winning streak has been led by backup quarterback Todd Collins, who has completed 64 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and no interceptions during the streak.

Clinton Portis ran for two touchdowns and had 104 yards on 25 carries Sunday. His 27 yards on four receptions gave him a career high for yards receiving in a season (389).