While the Baltimore Ravens are looking ahead to a playoff push, the sinking Washington Redskins are trying to salvage a once-promising season that has fallen into disarray.
Ed Reed intercepted two passes and returned a fumble for a touchdown, part of another dominating effort by the Baltimore defense in a 24-10 victory Sunday night.
With their seventh win in eight games, the Ravens (9-4) enhanced their position in the wild-card race and remained one game behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North. Baltimore hosts the Steelers next Sunday.
"We've got something special here," wide receiver Derrick Mason said, "and we're going to continue to roll with it."
That's how the Redskins felt after opening 6-2 under first-year coach Jim Zorn. Now, however, Washington (7-6) needs a strong finish and some outside help to qualify for the postseason.
"It's sudden death," Zorn said. "Unfortunately, losing four of the last five games does not help our confidence, so we've got to dig down deep in our preparation."
The Redskins got off to an awful start and never recovered. An interception by Reed on the third play from scrimmage set up an 8-yard touchdown run by Le'Ron McClain, and the Redskins' third series ended when Reed stripped the ball from Clinton Portis and took the fumble 22 yards for a score and a 14-0 lead.
Washington trailed 17-0 before scoring twice in the fourth quarter after Baltimore turnovers, but couldn't complete the comeback.
"We were 6-2 and now we're 7-6 and you find that hard to believe," quarterback Jason Campbell said.
The Ravens sacked Campbell twice, forced two interceptions and held Clinton Portis to 32 yards rushing.
Linebacker Ray Lewis, who had 13 tackles, said, "The way our defense came out and set down Clinton Portis, the guys up front did an extremely incredible freaking job."
The Redskins and Ravens should be rivals, but this was only the fourth meeting between the teams and the first in Baltimore. The last time they played, in 2004, Reed returned a fumble for a touchdown, made six tackles and had a sack in a 17-10 victory.
He was even better in the rematch.
"It's to the point now where's he's been amazing for so long that you expect him to make those plays," Ravens tight end Todd Heap said.
Reed not only put the Ravens in control, he ended any chance the Redskins had of coming back with an interception with 1:53 left.
Baltimore had gone 13 straight quarters and 46 possessions without allowing a touchdown until DeAngelo Hall returned a fumble by Willis McGahee 13 yards to the Baltimore 30 to set up a fourth-down TD pass from Campbell to Antwaan Randle El with 10:17 left.
Baltimore then launched an 83-yard drive in which McClain ran 10 times for 43 yards before Joe Flacco threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Mason.
Game over.
"You look at everybody on our football team and see frustration," Zorn said. "Our guys are disappointed. There is no faking what's going on in there."
Notes: Olympic star Michael Phelps was part of the record crowd of 71,438. ... Portis moved into 2nd place on the Redskins' career rushing list with 5,876 yards. ... Terrell Suggs got a sack to move into 2nd place on the Ravens' career list. He has 51 1/2, trailing only Peter Boulware (70). ... Redskins LT Chris Samuels left with a triceps injury, and RT Jon Jansen has a sprained ligament in his knee.
