JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If there's one thing the Washington Redskins have done right this season, it's overtime.
Kevin Barnes intercepted David Garrard's second pass in overtime, setting up Graham Gano's 31-yard field goal that gave the Redskins a 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars and snapped a four-game losing streak Sunday.
Rex Grossman had a touchdown pass early, and Ryan Torain added a 1-yard plunge on fourth down late. But the Redskins (6-9) won this game with defense.
Washington played without several defensive starters, including linebacker Brian Orakpo and safeties Reed Doughty and Kareem Moore, and lost cornerback Carlos Rogers during the game. It didn't matter. The Redskins stuffed Jacksonville's running game, pressured Garrard and came up big when it mattered most.
The win was Washington's third in four overtime games this season.
The Jaguars (8-7) have lost two in a row and need help to make the playoffs. They need to win at Houston next week and have Tennessee upset Indianapolis to win the AFC South.
Jacksonville tied the game at 17 on Garrard's 20-yard run with 2:44 remaining. The quarterback draw seemingly caught the Redskins by surprise, and a key block by center Brad Meester created enough of a crease for Garrard to reach the end zone.
Jacksonville sacked Grossman on the ensuing drive and settled for overtime. The Jaguars won the toss, took the ball and then watched things implode. Rashad Jennings gained a couple of yards, Garrard hit Jennings in the flat for a few more, then on third-and-4, the Redskins blitzed Garrard.
Under heavy pressure, Garrard floated a pass to the sideline. Barnes stepped in front and put the Redskins in position for Gano's winning kick. Gano drilled it on third down.
The Jaguars looked mostly uncomfortable in the coldest home game in team history. They had seven penalties, allowed four sacks, fumbled twice, had two turnovers and missed a field goal.
The Redskins were much more efficient.
Grossman completed 19 of 39 passes for 182 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Torain ran 20 times for 65 yards. Santana Moss had five receptions for 85 yards.
Still, they let Jacksonville get back in the game with Garrard's scoring run.
The Jaguars probably were fortunate to be in it. Garrard fumbled twice, but left tackle Eugene Monroe recovered one and Garrard got the other. And Jacksonville ended up on the positive side of three close calls near the end of the first half.
The Jaguars also played without star Maurice Jones-Drew, whose missed practice all week because of an injured right knee that likely will need surgery after the season.
Without Jones-Drew, the Jaguars were flat in the coldest home game in franchise history. Temperature at kickoff was 38 degrees, and wind gusts reaching 29 mph made it feel even more brisk. It broke the previous record of 40 degrees set Dec. 26, 2004, against Houston. The Jaguars failed to show up for that one and lost 21-0.
They weren't much better against Washington.
The Redskins used great field position to take a 10-0 lead after their first two possessions.
Rookie Brandon Banks returned the opening kickoff 32 yards, and place-kicker Josh Scobee's face-mask penalty tacked on 15 more yards.
Washington settled for a field goal, but then made it 10-0 after Garrard's first interception. Garrard floated a pass over Zach Miller's head and into Rogers' arms. Rogers returned it 38 yards and put Washington on the 18-yard line.
It looked as if the Jaguars would force another field goal, but linebacker Kirk Morrison was flagged for illegal contact on third down. Grossman found Fred Davis for a 1-yard score two plays later.
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